Early IBT Delegate Elections Kick Off

July 27, 2005: Many Teamsters are already setting their sights on running for IBT Convention delegate. Members are hot about benefit cuts and other broken promises by the Hoffa administration.

Delegates to the June 2006 IBT Convention, our union’s highest body, can set IBT policy, speak out on our union’s direction, and amend the IBT Constitution.

Every local union will hold nominations and a mail-ballot election for convention delegates. This balloting will give every member a chance to send the Hoffa administration a message.

Several locals with high percentages of seasonal members will be conducting elections this summer. Locals with officer elections in the fall could opt to run their delegate race at the same time, but very few locals have chosen this option.

One exception is Louisville, Ky. Local 89, one of the IBT’s largest locals and a key battleground with 17 delegates and 10 alternates at stake. Members there are gearing up for September nominations for the delegate race. Their officers election will take place later in the fall.

“Four years ago, [President] Fred Zuckerman and his Local 89 delegates went to the 2001 IBT Convention and rubber stamped everything Hoffa put forward,” said David Thornsberry, a UPS package car driver. “We plan on winning the delegate race this fall. We need to clean up the mess they’ve made for working Teamsters over the past five years and take a strong stand against the pension cuts that have devastated so many members.”
The bulk of IBT delegate elections will take place in winter 2006, with nominations in January.

By Sept. 30, all locals must submit a local union plan to the independent election supervisor with the exact dates for nominations, ballot mailing, and counting. A complete worksite list also must be made available on that date.

If you are running for convention delegate, make sure you request a copy of your local union’s plan and worksite list on or after Sept. 30.

It is not too early to start making campaign plans. Many members are not familiar with delegate elections or why they are important, so it is vital to start leafleting early and continue through the election.

Members who are fielding delegate slates are holding local meetings and TDU workshops. Workshops on running for delegate will also be held at the TDU Convention in St. Louis, Nov. 4-6.

Contact TDU for help with fliers, to set up a workshop, or for other assistance.