UPDATED: The O’Brien-Zuckerman Teamsters United Slate took a commanding lead on the first day of the Teamster International Union ballot and cruised to victory in the Southern Region with more than 70% of the vote.
Teamsters United swept every single state in the South. The Slate won by overwhelming margins in Atlanta Locals 728 and 528, Dallas Locals 767 and 745, Orlando Local 385, Tampa Local 79, Little Rock Local 878, San Antonio Local 657, Nashville Local 480, Birmingham Local 612, New Orleans Local 270, and Houston airline workers Local 19.
The Hoffa-backed Vairma-Herrera Slate won Miami Local 769 and narrowly carried Houston Local 988: two locals led by Vairma’s running mates.
“Five years ago, Teamsters United won the South, but this time the OZ coalition blew the doors off,” said IBT Vice President and TDU Steering Committee member. John Palmer. “Members want real change and an International Union that mobilizes, organizes, fights the employers and wins.”
The two Teamsters United candidates Thor Johnson of Tampa Local 79, and Brent Taylor of Dallas Local 745 are the newly-elected International Union Vice Presidents for the Southern Region.
Counting has begun in the Central Region and will then move on to the East, West, and finally Canada.
The count is being conducted by the staff of an independent Election Supervisor and is expected to be completed by this Friday, November 19.