A Teamsters War Of Words On Capitol Hill

by | Mar 22, 2023 | IBT, Labor Relations Ink, Local, News, Politics, Unions

This month, a Senate hearing grew contentious between self-described “militant” new Teamsters President Sean O’Brien and Oklahoma GOP Senator Markwayne Mullin.

The exchange took place before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which was tasked with examining company responses to labor organizing, and let’s just say that the rhetoric grew ugly. A “screaming match” actually erupted.

The full exchange between O’Brien and Mullin is worth reading at the CNBC link above, and also at the paywalled Washington Post version, which both report how Mullin, owner of Broken Arrow-based Mullin Plumbing, alleged 2019 incidents of Teamsters members attempting to intimidate his employees into organizing.

Both Mullin and O’Brien loudly questioned each others’ salaries – O’Brien currently makes $225,000 per year as Teamsters chief, and he disputed Mullin’s claim that he only drew a $50,000 salary as a CEO. It’s also quite something when even Sen. Bernie Sanders reportedly “tried to quiet the outburst” after O’Brien branded Mullin “a greedy CEO,” and Mullin countered with a “shut your mouth.

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