Latest news with #SeanOBrien
Fox News
16 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Teamsters' boss O'Brien lauds Trump tariffs, says attention should be on ‘massive' CEO compensation
It's "no secret" where the International Brotherhood of Teamsters' leadership stands on tariff implementation, union boss Sean O'Brien testified before Congress. On Tuesday, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, told O'Brien he believes he is sincere when he speaks about public policy that grows a "thriving middle class in this country." "That's not an act," Moreno suggested, to which O'Brien confirmed. "I think someone referred to me as a self-promoting union boss in one of their articles, but I'm not a self-promoting union boss. I'm a truck driver from a middle-class family that appreciates and embraces the preservation of the middle class," O'Brien said before the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation. "There's no secret what our position is as a union on tariffs." O'Brien took heat from the left for agreeing to speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention, and has been more open than some union bosses to engage with the Trump administration. In the hearing, he acknowledged public concern over the timing and specifics regarding the implementation of Trump's tariff regime and its effect on the U.S. consumer. However, he lambasted the 1993 NAFTA agreement forged under the Clinton administration, blaming the now-former framework for shipping jobs overseas. "Remember when we had plenty of industry in this country where we were producing goods and services. We were manufacturing steel. We were doing a lot of this work. And then these bad trade deals happened…" O'Brien added that while there is concern over job loss as well, there are other cost factors at play with the new tariff regime. He said corporate America should shoulder some of any negative fallout from the tariffs. "Take a little less in your own pocket, stop giving more to Wall Street, and just reward your workers and don't pass this cost on the consumers," he said. "We've got to take a look at excessive compensation with a lot of these CEOs and these corporations and their willingness to reward Wall Street instead of the people that work in these jobs." The Teamsters, which represent UPS workers as one of their largest workforces, also have been concerned over foreign nationals, who may not know English or U.S. traffic laws, being allowed to swoop in and take commercial driver's license (CDL) jobs, O'Brien said. Trump in April formally decreed strict English proficiency standards for CDL drivers, which Moreno also asked the union boss about. Moreno noted that as an immigrant himself – from Colombia – his parents required him to learn English, and asked O'Brien his thoughts on the flood of English-illiterate drivers on the same roads his members carry parcels every day. "I think it's extremely frightening, to be honest with you. You had a lot of trucking companies that were actively recruiting in foreign countries to bring people over here on those work visas… and train them and put them on the roads – where they're not from this country, they don't know this language," he said. "So our members are very passionate. By the way, our membership of 1.3 million is well representative from first-generation immigrants who came over here the right way, who learned the language, learned the laws, obtain this CDLs properly. And went to work and everything else." He suggested another solution being that Mexican truck drivers could drop their trailers at the U.S. border, to be picked up by American drivers who finish the trip.
Fox News
18 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Top union boss lauds Trump tariff efforts
Teamsters president Sean O'Brien praises effects of tariffs on working-class, during a Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation hearing.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
World War II Eire sign unearthed in Wexford by group of dedicated volunteers
A piece of World War II history has been brought back to light in Wexford after a group of volunteers unearthed an Eire sign at Cahore Point on Sunday, July 13. Sean O Brien along with members of the community began took the initiative to return the historical landmark to its previous glory.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UPS driver buyout offers: Carrier eyes Aug. 31 start to separations
This story was originally published on Supply Chain Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Supply Chain Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: UPS is offering voluntary buyouts to its full-time U.S. drivers amounting to $1,800 per year of service, with a minimum payout of $10,000, according to an announcement from the carrier Friday. Interested drivers must apply for the program between July 18 and July 31, according to a UPS employee communication viewed by Supply Chain Dive. Applicants will be considered for separation dates between Aug. 31 and Oct. 31 "based on the local needs of the business." "If the maximum number of applications is exceeded, approvals will be granted in seniority order," the communication said. "Additional applications may be considered for separation dates between Feb. 1, 2026, and March 31, 2026." Dive Insight: The undertaking, called the Driver Voluntary Separation Program, is the first in UPS' history for delivery drivers. The financial incentive available through the program is in addition to earned retirement benefits like pension and healthcare, per UPS. Word of the program spread on July 3, when the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union said UPS' buyout plan was in motion. The Teamsters represent more than 300,000 UPS employees under a five-year contract reached in 2023. 'Our members cannot be bought off and we will not allow them to be sold out," Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien said in the union's announcement. "The Teamsters are prepared to fight UPS on every front with every available resource to shut down this illegal buyout program." The union urged members to reject the buyout offers in a LinkedIn post on Friday. UPS did not specify what would happen if a lower-than-expected number of drivers applied for the program. UPS is enacting the buyout program in the midst of a major network overhaul to boost profitability, which will feature several facility closures and an over 50% volume reduction from Amazon, its top customer. The initiative also comes after the carrier revealed plans in April to cut roughly 20,000 U.S. positions this year. "As we work through our network reconfiguration, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing our customers with the reliable, industry-leading service they expect from UPS," the company said in Friday's announcement. Recommended Reading UPS plans 20K job cuts this year as Amazon pullback advances
Fox News
14-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Ongoing trash strike draws pressure from officials as communities struggle with waste build-up
As the multi-state worker strike approaches the two-week mark, the garbage collection company involved in the unrest is being urged by state leaders across the country to finalize a contract and restore services. Republic Services told Fox News Digital that they are "working to resume regular trash collection as quickly as possible." "A work stoppage does not benefit our employees or the communities we serve. We empathize with customers who have been impacted by the Teamsters' decision to stop work," a spokesperson for the company shared in a statement. The company added that its customers will be notified via text, phone and email with any updates. Despite the involvement of a federal mediator, recent negotiations between Republic Services and Teamsters, the union representing the garbage collectors, have ended without resolution. Last week, Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien escalated tensions by threatening to disrupt waste collection operations across multiple states. The strike has disrupted trash collection in 14 Massachusetts communities served by Republic, primarily along the North Shore. O'Brien declared "war" on Republic Services, warning that the union plans to "flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state." "Republic Services has been threatening a war with American workers for years — and now, they've got one," O'Brien said in a statement. "Republic abuses and underpays workers across the country. They burn massive profits and funnel money to undeserving, corrupt executives." O'Brien said the Teamsters "have had it with Republic." "We will flood the streets and shut down garbage collection in state after state. Workers are uniting nationwide, and we will get the wages and benefits we've earned, come hell or high water." Teamsters claimed that Republic Services had refused to settle fair contracts, despite months of negotiations in cities around the country. "Republic Services doesn't run without its hardworking Teamsters. This strike forced on workers by the multibillion-dollar corporation is resulting in trash pileups and collection disruptions for scores of people across the country," the organization wrote in a post on X. "But Teamsters at Republic will not back down until they've gotten the fair contracts they've rightfully earned." In the meantime, numerous Massachusetts towns and businesses are facing mounting piles of uncollected garbage. Republic claimed the union wasn't negotiating in good faith, while the Teamsters accused the company of abandoning talks and refusing to continue over the weekend. "Unfortunately, the Teamsters did not take the negotiations seriously and refused to make any meaningful progress," the company told Fox News Digital. "Today, we made a formal proposal that included a nearly 16% wage increase immediately and an approximate 43% pay increase over five years for our Greater Boston employees. Contrary to the many falsehoods the Teamsters are spreading, our offer outpaces competitors." Another round of discussions is set for Tuesday as workers are calling for better wages, improved benefits and enhanced job protections. Nationally, over 2,000 Teamsters are either actively striking or observing picket lines. The Republic Services Teamsters began striking on July 3 on the East Coast. The company said it is facing union-related work stoppages at six locations, including two business units in Boston and four additional sites in Cumming, Georgia; Ottawa, Illinois; Manteca, California, and Lacey, Washington. The Teamsters union has also expanded picketing to several other locations, with many employees at those sites honoring the picket lines, the company said. While the company claims that garbage pickup is continuing in all affected areas, many residents and businesses report delays and inconsistent service. Republic's commercial clients, such as restaurants, are also grappling with waste collection issues. Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin sent a formal letter Friday to Republic Services President Jon Vander Ark, criticizing the company for halting active negotiations and imposing hardship on communities. In the letter, obtained by Galvin called for more intense efforts to reach a deal and suggested that the situation might require greater government oversight of the waste management sector. He emphasized that essential public services like trash collection shouldn't hinge on the strategies of a private corporation, and questioned whether oversight of such services should remain in the hands of private firms. Boston City Councilors Erin Murphy, John FitzGerald and Ed Flynn echoed these sentiments in a separate letter to Vander Ark. The trio, who spearheaded a City Council resolution supporting the Teamsters, said the union's demands were fair and accused Republic of failing to meet fundamental labor standards. Republic countered that it had proposed a nearly 16% immediate pay raise and a total increase of around 43% over five years. The company accused the union of spreading misinformation and asserted its wage offers exceed those of competitors. "Don't believe the union's false narrative – 45% of our Greater Boston drivers represented by the Teamsters earned more than $100,000 last year, based on W-2 data," the company said. "If the Teamsters accepted the offer we made today, drivers would make approximately $140,000 per year, by the end of the contract." In addition, the company claimed that they "pay 100% of the health and welfare premiums for our Greater Boston employees" and ensured that they have a comprehensive health and welfare plan. The company said that the mediator requested both sides return to mediation on Tuesday, July 15, and both parties agreed. "We are confident that our most recent proposal meets all of our employees' demands, and we expect the Teamsters to bargain in the best interest of our employees." Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
