Actually if you do the current math, Sandy and Fred if combined would be a little ahead of Hoffa on total count. Right now we are through local 400 in Ohio through the central region. Lets not forget that the 2 biggest locals in the Central 705 and 710 have not been counted and could esily swing the count to one of these canidates.
No sense fighting over it, the ballots are in! Nothing we do or say now will change the outcome at this point. We need to move forward as a Union in solidarity and take the fight back to the companies and big business that are waging wars on us the American working men and women.
Currently (253Pm pst) Hoffa controls 49.5% of the vote. The other two are splitting the remaining vote with the edge going to Fred.
In my prediction, I gave too much credit to Sandy Pope in saying she would get 39% of the vote. Currently, shes only managed to get 19% of the vote while Fred is holding at 30% of the vote.
This tells you clearly, that in two regions, the TDU message has been rejected. Freds message has seemed to resonate with some voters who wanted change and its Popes involvement that is preventing a victory for Fred.
Indeed, if Popes votes went to Fred, he could be in a good position to win the election with two regions remaining. Instead, Pope will take key votes away from Fred.
At the end of the day however, Sandy in third doesnt bode well for TDU and its efforts.
For Hoffa, he has to look to the future and make some changes in leadership in order to pull the rank and file back into his corner with a clear majority. Hoffa will have to organize all the locals to enforce the UPS language equally and fairly. In the upcoming UPS contract, he MUST include the most qualified to negotiate on the Teamsters behalf and protect our part timers and full timers.
As for now, the outcome is predictable. The votes are going Hoffas way.
Peace
