Bethel, 2025 ESD 1
OFFICE OF THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR
for the
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
IN RE: MARK BETHEL, ) Protest Decision 2025 ESD 1
)
) Issued: March 31, 2025
)
Protestor. ) OES Case No. P-001-021825-CAN
)
______________________________)
INTRODUCTION
Mark Bethel, member of Local Union 31, and member of the Bethel Unity Slate (“Protestor”) filed a pre-election protest pursuant to Article XIII, Section 2(b) of the Rules for the 2025-2026 IBT International Union Delegate and Officer Election (“IBT Election Rules”). The protest alleges that union representatives impermissibly used union funds or resources to attack and/or oppose a candidate.
The Office of the Election Supervisor’s Regional Director Jack Sullens investigated this protest.
FINDINGS OF FACT
The Protestor alleges that the President of Local Union 31, Stan Hennessy, and Business Representative, Murwan Salame, violated the IBT Constitution and IBT Election Rules by using union resources to issue a campaign related mailer against candidates from the Bethel Unity Slate.
In January 2025, Protestor distributed materials at the Metro Vancouver Regional District building referencing the Bethel Unity Slate (the “Bethel Material”). The Bethel Material notes a “TIME FOR CHANGE IN OUR UNION” including leadership accountability, transparency, a union for the members (elimination of nepotism), and a commitment to action and engagement. It appears that the Bethel Materials are campaign material, however there is no specific reference to any election. It should also be noted that the current term for the local union officers does not expire until December 31, 2027.
On September 11, 2024, three months before distributing the Bethel Material, Protester sent correspondence to the union executive stating, “This letter serves as a formal warning regarding compliance with all applicable laws, union bylaws and the constitution during the upcoming International Delegate Election set for 2026 and the Local Union Election in 2027.” This letter put the Local Union 31 leadership, but not the membership at large, on notice of the Bethel Unity Slate’s intention to field candidates in both future elections, the International Delegate Elections and the Local Union election, taking place in 2026 and 2027.
The document giving rise to this protest was a letter, dated February 13, 2025, signed by Stan Hennessy and Murwan Salame on Local Union 31 letterhead, paid for by the union, and distributed to members at the Metro Vancouver Regional District location (the “Hennessey Correspondence”). The Hennessey Correspondence states, “I am writing to address the recent concerns raised by members at Metro Vancouver regarding unsolicited letters left at your workplace…” That correspondence does not refer to the Protestor by name, but as a “disgruntled union representative currently campaigning for a future election in 2027,” and attributes negative motives to his campaign. The Protester alleges that this violates the IBT Election Rules prohibiting the use of union dues or other official resources for campaign purposes.
For the past several months, the protester has been distributing campaign literature and materials at various locations within the local. Mr. Hennessy has not responded to any of the Protestor’s materials prior to this publication. He states that his response in this particular instance was driven solely by his duty to protect the interests of the members and their confidence in the new business representative Murwan Salame. Mr. Salame was about to engage in his first collective agreement bargaining round as the chair of the bargaining committee. The building where the Bethel Material was distributed—the Metro Vancouver Regional District building—is a mixed-use office building which includes many British Columbia municipal offices. It has 29 floors, with a mix of Teamsters and unaffiliated office workers. Local Union 31 has always maintained a strong respectful relationship with members at this location including honoring some of their preferences to remain uninvolved in union politics.
Mr. Hennessey stated that the Bethel Material contained the slogan “It’s time for a change,” which was troubling to members at that site because it casts unnecessary doubt on the current business representative at a critical time in the bargaining cycle. Mr. Salame was hired from this location and has served in his role as chair of the bargaining committee for approximately 1 year. Mr. Salame is highly regarded by the membership, but the timing and nature of the Bethel Material caused undue anxiety among some members. Some members voiced their concerns to Mr. Hennessy regarding the literature being handed out at this site and local leadership received questions and/or concerns about the intent of the Bethel Material.
Mr. Hennessy clarified in the Hennessy Correspondence that the Bethel Material was not sanctioned by Local Union 31 and made sure not to specifically identify the Protestor in his correspondence to the members. It also appears that the membership at large was unaware of the Bethel Unity Slate’s intention for future elections. Mr. Hennessey stated that his sole objective in issuing the Hennessey Correspondence was to reassure the members at this location and to maintain trust in the integrity of their union representation during the upcoming bargaining.
Both parties were cooperative and provided information as requested during this investigation. They both participated in a credible and forthwith manner during their respective investigatory ZOOM meetings.
ANALYSIS
During the investigation, Protestor confirmed that the Bethel Unity Slate, will be participating in both the 2026 delegate and local union election in 2027. However, the Bethel Material does not reference any specific election that the Bethel Unity Slate is campaigning for, but instead is a criticism of the current Local Union 31 leadership. The Bethel Unity Slate has been distributing literature at various work sites and at union meetings since late fall of 2024. Mr. Hennessy has not issued any statements regarding this distribution, until this Bethel Material at this work site due to the timing of entering negotiations and concerns voiced by members about the literature.
Protestor acknowledged that the Bethel Material does not reference a specific election the Bethel Unity Slate is involved in. Additionally, the Hennessey Correspondence specifically refers to an unnamed employee “campaigning for a future election in 2027”, implying that the employee is campaigning for the local election (emphasis added). Notably, the Election Supervisor only has jurisdiction over the IBT International Union Delegate and Officer Elections. He does not have jurisdiction over local union elections. See Jordan, 2001 EAD 76 (January 3, 2001); Collett, 2000 EAD 66 (December 19, 2000); Hale, 2000 EAD 61 (December 12, 2000); Weronke, P867 (August 19, 1996); Bishop, 2011 ESD 112 (February 14, 2011).
CONCLUSION
On the facts presented here, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the Bethel Material, which gave rise to the Hennessey Correspondence, related to 2026 IBT International Union Delegate and Officer Election. We, therefore, deny this protest for lack of jurisdiction.
APPELLATE RIGHTS
Any interested party not satisfied with this determination may request a hearing before the Election Appeals Master within two (2) working days of receipt of this decision. Any party requesting a hearing must comply with the requirements of Article XIII, Section 2(i). All parties are reminded that, absent extraordinary circumstances, no party may rely in any such appeal upon evidence that was not presented to the Office of the Election Supervisor. Requests for a hearing shall be made in writing, shall specify the basis for the appeal, and shall be served upon:
Election Appeals Master
Barbara Jones
Election Appeals Master
IBTappealsmaster@bracewell.com
Copies of the request for hearing must be served upon the parties, as well as upon the Election Supervisor for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Service may be accomplished by email, using the “reply all” function on the email by which the party received this decision. A copy of the protest must accompany the request for hearing. A copy of the protest must accompany the request for hearing.
Timothy S. Hillman
Election Supervisor
Cc: Barbara Jones
2025 ESD 1
DISTRIBUTION LIST (BY EMAIL UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE):
Mark Bethel
Stan Hennessey
Murwan Salame
David Suetholz
Edward Gleason
Ken Paff
Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Paul Dever
Timothy S. Hillman
Kelly Hogan