Elections

USW Local 5000 will conduct the election of a new Executive Board in accordance with our Local Union By-Laws in the Spring of 2021. This page serves to inform our members of the election process, and any relevant information about the 2021 Executive Board Election. We encourage you to monitor this page regularly for the latest updates.

The current members of the Executive Board were appointed by USW Officials and assumed responsibility of USW Local 5000 on May 1, 2020, to complete the remainder of the three-year term, which expires May 1, 2021. 

Nominations for Office (Due March 31, 2021)

Normally, in land-based local unions, elections are held at a designated location on a certain date. To accommodate for the challenges imposed with the overwhelming majority of our members working aboard vessels for months at a time, nominations will be made in writing and mailed to our Business Agent. Nominations must be submitted in writing with your name and signature to verify the eligibility of the member submitting the nomination (preventing non-union members, or members of the public from participating in the electoral process.) 

The following offices are open for nomination: 

  • President
  • Vice-President
  • Treasurer
  • Financial Secretary
  • Recording Secretary
  • Trustee
  • Trustee
  • Trustee

In order to be eligible for nomination to office,

  • The nominee shall have been in continuous good standing for a period of twenty-four (24) months immediately preceding the month in which nominations begin.
  • The nominee retains an employer-employee relationship with a Company under the jurisdiction of the Local Union.

There will only be an election if more than one person is nominated for any given office. 

Election

The deadline to submit nominations closed on March 31, 2021, and the Elections Board has reported the following members have been nominated and qualify for election to the respective office: 

President

Kevin Vekaryasz

Vice-President

Adam Larson

Treasurer

John Glentz

Financial Secretary

Nate Chesebro

Recording Secretary

Bob Haworth

Trustee

John Baumgardner, James Kruczynski, Mike Fuqua

Election Results

President

Kevin Vekaryasz was unopposed and retains the Office of the President until May 1, 2024. 

Vice-President

Adam Larson was unopposed and retains the Office of the Vice-President until May 1, 2024.

Treasurer

John Glentz was unopposed and retains the Office of the Treasurer until May 1, 2024.

Financial Secretary

Nate Chesebro was unopposed and retains the Office of the Financial Secretary until May 1, 2024.

Recording Secretary

Bob Haworth was unopposed and succeeds Frank Jackson in holding the Office of the Recording Secretary until May 1, 2024.

Trustee

John Baumgardner and James Kruczynski were unopposed and will continue to serve as Trustees until May 1, 2024. Mike Fuqua of Interlake Steamship was unopposed and succeeds David Cebula as Trustee until May 1, 2024. 

The upcoming term of office begins at 12:01 AM on May 1, 2024, at which time newly elected successors will be granted all rights and responsibilities associated with their respective office. Objections to the results must be directed to the Elections Board prior to the beginning of the upcoming term. 

Questions

If you have questions about the electoral process, please contact Business Agent Tom Zidek at thomaszidek@gmail.com or by calling (440) 225-7752.