1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: This is the conversation of the day. If you are 2 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: in Local twenty five in Boston and you grew up 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:10,240 Speaker 1: with three generations of Teamsters, and then you take on 4 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: all of what we know, all of the decades and 5 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: decades of history of the Teamsters, and you revolutionize unions 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: in America, you come to a moment like we saw 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 1: yesterday with big Brown Ups. Sean O'Brien has provided the 8 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: leadership on this. He's General president of the International Brotherhood 9 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:32,639 Speaker 1: of Teamsters and joins us moeing Sean, congratulations on this 10 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: pre vote agreement, this handshake agreement you have with Ups. 11 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: In your comments and others, you say Amazon is next. 12 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:42,600 Speaker 2: Where do you move. 13 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: From this successful agreement to the next transportation company? Is 14 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: it Amazon? 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 3: Amazon's definitely going to be a target to organize. We're 16 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 3: going to take this historic agreement and use it as 17 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 3: a template to show the Amazon workers what they will 18 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 3: receive when they join the team union and we organize them. 19 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: The significance of this agreement speaks to a new Teamsters. 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:11,840 Speaker 1: Does all of America, including i'm going to call capitalist America, 21 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: misunderstand the modern labor dynamic. 22 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 3: Well, I'm not sure if they misunderstand it. But the 23 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 3: one thing that we were able to achieve with this 24 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:27,960 Speaker 3: agreement is that we showed the entire country what you 25 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 3: can do when you have the support of your rank. 26 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 2: And file members. 27 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 3: I think we put some more energy into the labor movement, 28 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 3: but also we got the largest deal done without having 29 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 3: to strike the company, So I think we. 30 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 2: Added credibility to the process. 31 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:48,559 Speaker 3: And also, more importantly, we set the tone for what 32 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 3: organized labor can achieve against Corporate America and these high profits. 33 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 2: And we want to be rewarded. Our members need to 34 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: be rewarded. 35 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 4: Sean, you said that UPS blinked in a statement to 36 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 4: your three hundred and forty thousand members. Do you get 37 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 4: the sense that corporations are more willing to blink now 38 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 4: because of the labor shortages, that your negotiating power is 39 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 4: stronger than it's been in a very long time. 40 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think we've got We've got tremendous leverage right 41 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 3: now because. 42 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: You know, we can leverage our ability. We've provided. 43 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:25,720 Speaker 3: We've provided tremendous support during the pandemic, providing goods and services, 44 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 3: and I think now it's the time to capitalize. I mean, 45 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 3: we far too long, We kept seeing CEO pay increasing 46 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,519 Speaker 3: and stock options increasing, and our members pay not just 47 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 3: in the team stirs union, but throughout the labor movement 48 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 3: we're not increasing. 49 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 2: So I think right. 50 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:46,040 Speaker 3: Now we have the ability to really really showcase and 51 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 3: be the model and encourage other unions to stand up 52 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:50,280 Speaker 3: and fight. 53 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 4: How do you decide, Sean, when you're negotiating what the 54 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 4: threshold is between workers' rights and workers pay increases versus 55 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 4: the health of a company of what's sustainable over a 56 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 4: longer period of time, given that prices are increasing and 57 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 4: then this is an inflationary environment. 58 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 3: Well, I think, first off, I mean we had a 59 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 3: great situation here with UPS because of our members and 60 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 3: their hard work. 61 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,280 Speaker 2: They made a hundred billion dollars. 62 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,359 Speaker 3: So a healthy company should share the profits and should 63 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 3: share the wealth. 64 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: Look, we take every negotiation, we do a deep dive. 65 00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:24,079 Speaker 2: We're a lot. 66 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 3: More sophisticated than we were thirty or forty years ago. 67 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 3: So we obviously study the finances, study the projections, and 68 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 3: make certain that you know, we understand what we can. 69 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 2: Get out of these companies. But you know, far too long. 70 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 3: You know, everybody uses the economy saying hey, we could 71 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 3: probably go into a recession, and that's all well and good. 72 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 3: We always come out of bad situations at some point 73 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 3: in time, so we always just stay focused on what 74 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 3: our members need. 75 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 2: We're not too concerned about Wall Street or anything else. 76 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 3: What is going to help our members survive and provide 77 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 3: middle class opportunities for their families in. 78 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:02,640 Speaker 1: The time that we have left. I mean, your sons 79 00:04:02,680 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: are involved in this. Your father was Local twenty five 80 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: as well. You've lived this for your entire lifetime. How 81 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 1: do we change the atomization of labor in America, the 82 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:19,880 Speaker 1: deunionization of America. Do you perceive a sea change with 83 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 1: this agreement? 84 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:21,920 Speaker 4: Yeah? 85 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 2: I think this agreement is going to be a template. 86 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 3: To show the entire workforce, union and non union what 87 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 3: you get when you join a union. You're going to 88 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 3: get wage increases, You're gonna get health and welfare. 89 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 2: You're gonna get pension, but more't poorly going at dignium, 90 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 2: respect and a future. 91 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 3: This agreement that we negotiated, you know, we protected against technology. 92 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,960 Speaker 2: We provided for full time job opportunities. 93 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 3: That's the leverage that you have when you're working for 94 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,520 Speaker 3: the best contract in the industry, and we achieve that. 95 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 1: Sean, you we're just going to run out of time here. 96 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 1: I want you to speak to the Bloomberg Surveillance Office. 97 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:00,480 Speaker 1: There are a lot of fancy people, let's be blunt. 98 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: They're probably less pro union than many What do unions? 99 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 1: What do the teamsters bring to capitalists to provide for 100 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: better productivity? 101 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 2: Hey, we bring the best workforce in America. 102 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 3: We prove that during the pandemic, not just in ups, 103 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 3: but picking up rubbish, delivering groceries. 104 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:19,479 Speaker 2: We provided goods and services. 105 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 3: We prove we're essential, and we're going to continue that 106 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 3: post pandemic, and we've got the best workforce in America. 107 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: Shawn O'Brien, congratulations. All I ask is after ups, you 108 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: do something about the Red Sox Shawn O'Brien Local twenty 109 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: five in Boston and also with the International Brotherhood of 110 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:36,400 Speaker 1: Teamsters there as well.