Eligibility of Mary Golden, 2026 ESD 35
OFFICE OF THE ELECTION SUPERVISOR
for the
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS
) Protest Decision: 2026 ESD 35
IN RE: ELIGIBILITY OF )
) Issued: February 4, 2026
MARY GOLDEN )
) OES Case No. E-048-011426
)
)
)
Keith Kazluski 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 (“Rules”) challenging the eligibility of Mary Golden as candidate for delegate in Local 710’s delegate election. Specifically, the protestor alleges that Golden is not eligible because she is not actively working in a craft industry as required by Article VI, Section 1(a)(2) of the Rules.
Ron Webne, a representative of the Office of the Election Supervisor (“OES”), investigated these protests.
FINDINGS OF FACT AND ANALYSIS
Pursuant to Art. VI, Section 1 (a)(1)-(3) of the Rules, to be eligible to run for any Convention delegate, alternate delegate, or International Officer position, one must:
(1) Be a member in continuous good standing of the Local Union, with one's dues paid to the Local Union for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months prior to the month of nomination for said position with no interruptions in active membership due to suspensions, expulsions, withdrawals, transfers or failure to pay fines or assessments;
(2) Be employed at the craft within the jurisdiction of the Local Union for a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive months prior to the month of nomination; and
(3) Be eligible to hold office if elected.
Local 710’s nomination meeting was conducted on January 13, 2026, at 7:00pm CT. Golden was nominated as a candidate for delegate. Thus, among other requirements, Golden must have been employed at the craft within the jurisdiction of Local 710 from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025.
Golden worked for Ruan Transportation Services (“Ruan”) from May 22, 2022 until October 27, 2025, when she was terminated. She filed a grievance over her termination and is currently awaiting the selection of an arbitrator. Golden has been unemployed since her termination from Ruan in October.
Under Article VI, Section 2(b) of the Rules:
The active employment at the craft requirement may be excused by unemployment if, for the period of unemployment, the member was actively seeking and available for employment in the craft and not working outside the craft during such period of unemployment, or by active pursuit of an unresolved grievance or other legal action challenging suspension or discharge.
Thus, because Golden is actively pursuing an unresolved grievance or other legal action challenging her discharge, a fact that Mr. Kazluski acknowledges, she falls within the acceptable modifications of eligibility requirements of Art. VI, Section 2(b) of the Rules.
But, even if that were not the case, and as discussed in further detail below, since the termination of her employment from Ruan, and more particularly, during the relevant time period, October 27, 2025 through December 31, 2025,[1] Golden has also been actively seeking and is available for employment in the craft. Golden, who we find credible, stated that since the termination of her employment in October, she has been actively seeking and available for work in the craft. Her statements are corroborated by substantial documentation. For example, Golden provided copies of the following e-mails demonstrating that she was, in fact, seeking employment and available for such employment between October 27, 2025 and December 31, 2025:
- 10/27/25: E-mail to her from ABF Freight
- 10/3025: E-mail to her from Jett Truckings, LLC
- 12/15/25: E-mail to her from Oakley Transport
- 12/18/25: E-mail to her from Oakley Transport
- 1/2/26: E-mail to her from ABF Freight
- 1/6/26: E-mail to her from ABF Freight
- 1/12/26: E-mail to her from Sunbelt Rentals
- 1/13/26: E-mail Sunbelt Rentals
- 1/13/26: E-mall to her from Reyes Coca-Cola Bottlings LLC
Golden also provided a document entitled “Mary V Golden Activity Report.” The report reflects her job-seeking activities beginning October 27, 2025. The report contains a description of the job, the date, status, and her activity in furtherance of obtaining such job. There are 57 entries beginning the week after Golden’s employment ended in October through December 31, 2025 in the Mary V Golden Activity Report. Additionally, Golden provided a chart showing that she submitted applications for various jobs between October 28, 2025 and January 24, 2026.
Golden stated that Local 710 has a job board that she checks periodically. She has pursued employment with some of the companies from the job board, including ABF Freight, who is an IBT employer. Notably, placement on a referral list for a Teamster employer is sufficient to establish the member's willingness and intention to take employment in that craft should it become available. See In re: Eligibility of Jeffrey Duncan, Local 614, 2006 ESD 55 (Jan. 26, 2006), aff’d 06 EAM 9 (Feb. 14, 2006) (finding that because the member remained on the call list for an employer under the jurisdiction of the local union, it demonstrated his willingness and intention to take employment with the employer in the craft should it become available) (citing Funk, E86 (February 20, 1996), aff’d 96 EAM 107 (February 28, 1996)). Golden’s use of the Local 710 jobs board also demonstrates her willingness and intention to take employment in the craft should it become available.
Golden has also paid her dues to Local 710 in a timely manner for 24 consecutive months prior to January 2026, the month of the Local 710 nomination meeting, including cash payments since her termination of employment from Ruan.
Kazluski confirmed that the basis of his protest was that Golden was terminated from Ruan on October 27, 2025, and since then, has not been working in the craft. The investigator asked Kazluski to “provide all information and documents that relate to whether, during that time Ms. Golden was actively seeking and available for employment in the craft and not working outside the craft.” Kazluski responded to the investigator’s request but did not provide any additional information to dispute the evidence showing that Golden is, and has been, actively seeking and available for employment in the craft and is not, and has not been, working outside the craft.
Accordingly, we find that Golden is eligible and DENY this protest.
APPELLATE RIGHTS
IBTappealsmaster@bracewell.com
cc: Barbara Jones, IBTappealsmaster@bracewell.com
DISTRIBUTION LIST (BY EMAIL UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE):
Mary Golden
Edward M. Gleason, Jr.,
David Suetholz
[1] Golden has been unemployed since October 27, 2025, thus, she has not been working outside the craft.