GOP senator challenges Teamsters president to a battle throughout listening to

At a listening to of the Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., challenged Teamsters Common President Sean O’Brien to a battle, prompting committee Chair Bernie Sanders to intervene. 

The committee listening to, titled Standing Up Towards Company Greed: How Unions are Bettering the Lives of Working Households, featured the heads of a number of high unions. O’Brien was there on behalf of Teamsters simply months after his union secured a significant collective bargaining settlement with UPS after employees threatened to strike. 

“It is a time and this can be a place. You wish to run your mouth, we may be two consenting adults. We are able to end it right here. OK?” Mullin mentioned. 

“That’s nice, excellent,” O’Brien mentioned. 

“You wish to do it now?” Mullin mentioned. 

“I would like to do it proper now,” O’Brien mentioned. 

“Stand your butt up,” Mullin mentioned. 

“You then stand your butt up,” O’Brien mentioned as Mullin stood up. 

The alternate prompted Sanders to get Mullin to sit down again down. 

“It is a listening to, and God is aware of the American folks have sufficient contempt for Congress,” Sanders mentioned. “You will have questions on any financial points, something mentioned, go for it. We’re not right here to speak about bodily abuse.”

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The encounter was not the primary time the 2 have engaged in a heated argument. Mullin expressed frustration about how unionized employees affected his plumbing enterprise. 

“Again in 2009, you guys tried to unionize me,” Mullin mentioned, including that he was paying staff higher than unionized employees. “As a result of we began bidding union jobs and successful these, union pipefitters determined to come back after us.” 

O’Brien went on to say that Mullin was a “grasping CEO” who “hides cash.” 

Mullin mentioned on the March 2023 listening to that he helps union employees’ proper to affix a union however mentioned members shouldn’t be obligated to affix a union. 

On Tuesday, O’Brien testified that the current contract with UPS was an instance of how unions are holding employers accountable. 

“The intense consolidation of wealth and energy on this nation is a disaster that deserves Congress’ quick and full consideration, however working People aren’t ready to be saved by their elected officers. Staff are taking motion to enhance their lifestyle, keep secure, and have a voice at work by organizing and constructing employee energy,” he mentioned. 

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