Teamster Says Union’s Leadership Is Totally Ignoring Overwhelming Support For Trump Among Rank-And-File

Rudy Melendez, a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), said that many rank-and-file members of his union, which represents the backstage crew of Hollywood productions, were supporting the former President.

“I’m definitely seeing it in my union,” Melendez told Gallagher. “I am a member of IATSE… a Hollywood labor union. We’re seeing the rank-and-file in support of Trump. I’m seeing Trump stickers on trucks, on the lot, the guys coming up to me asking me about you know, what are the policies. We just have to remember that families, moms and union laborers and family members have lost so much of the last three and a half years and I think that’s why they are supporting Trump in 2024.”

Gallagher asked Paine about comments by Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, who criticized union president Sean O’Brien for what she claimed was “questionable changes” in his behavior after the union announced its neutrality.

“At the end of the day, we know that when the Teamsters are in trouble, who do they call when they need to make sure that Teamsters pensions are bailed out?” Ocasio-Cortez said Wednesday, according to The Washington Times.

“You know what? When the Democrats need help, they call the Teamsters and all the unions, they go out and knock on doors for them,” Paine said. “When the Democrats need help, that’s when they come ask for us… We never ask them for anything except allow us to have good jobs.”