For decades, the Democratic Party has depended on organized labor groups to provide financial assistance and campaign volunteers.

However, one major union recently abandoned Vice President Kamala Harris amid growing pressure from its members. 

Fire fighters union won't get behind Kamala Harris

According to the Daily Caller, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) announced this week that it will not give an endorsement to either Harris or former President Donald Trump.

That message was made public on Thursday in the form of a social media statement released by IAFF president Edward Kelly.

A statement from @IAFFPresident following today's IAFF Executive Board meeting pic.twitter.com/D6K6eQFrF7

— International Association of Fire Fighters (@IAFFofficial) October 3, 2024

"Over the past year, the IAFF took unprecedented steps to hear our members' views on the candidates and the policy issues that matter most to them," Kelly revealed.

"As we have over our 106-year history, the IAFF will continue its work to improve the lives of fire fighters and their families," he continued.

Union previously endorsed Joe Biden and gave heavily to Democratic candidates

"The IAFF Executive Board determined that we are better able to advocate for our members and make progress on the issues that matter to them if we, as a union, are standing shoulder-to-shoulder," Kelly declared.

The organized labor leader went on to say that "[t]his decision, which we took very seriously, is the best way to preserve and strengthen our unity."

The Daily Caller noted how this week's move stands in sharp contrast with how the IAFF operated four years ago when it endorsed President Joe Biden.

What's more, the Daily Caller also pointed to records showing that the IAFF donated a combined total of $1.5 million to federal candidates in 2016 and 2020, with 80% going to Democrats.

Teamsters head also refuses to endorse the vice president

The IAFF's refusal to endorse Vice President Harris came just weeks after Fox News reported that International Brotherhood of Teamsters president Sean O'Brien revealed that his union would not make an endorsement either.

"Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before big business," Fox News quoted O'Brien as saying in a statement.

That decision brought an angry response from Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, who said, "It's clear that these workers are misinformed or uninformed about Trump’s record on labor. His allegiance isn’t toward working people."