March 18, 2009: President Hoffa has named Brad Slawson, Sr. to replace the only woman on our union’s top leadership.

Cheryl Johnson, the lone woman on the Teamster General Executive Board, is retiring and has resigned as a Central Region Vice President. Hoffa has appointed Slawson, the principal officer of Minneapolis Local 120, to replace her.

The General Executive Board is the highest leadership body in our union. It has 26 members: 25 white men and one African American man.

Ferline Buie, the head of Local 922, serves as an International Union Trustee, but she has no vote and is not a member of the General Executive Board.

Of 1.4 million Teamsters, could Hoffa not find a single woman to name to the leadership to represent women Teamsters?

Slawson, Sr. will be the second member of Minnesota Local 120 on the Board. The other is Secretary-Treasurer Tom Keegel.

TDU believes that our union leadership should reflect the membership and that a strong union involves everyone.