Bus union president
re-electedMel Kahele has led Local 996
since 1996 and is ready to begin
a new term on Jan. 1
The union leader who led city bus workers into a month-long strike over wages, pensions and layoffs has been re-elected.
Mel Kahele will serve a three-year term that begins Jan. 1. He has been the president of the Hawaii Teamsters Local 996, which represents about 6,000 city bus workers and drivers for other private companies, since 1996.
Neither Kahele nor a Teamsters spokesman could be reached yesterday. Vote totals were not released.
Kahele was running unopposed for another term after the only other candidate for the position was ruled ineligible because a dispute over dues.
Anson "Slim" Ilae, a shuttle driver for Budget Rent-A-Car, sued the union in federal court in September seeking to reverse the decision. The court ruled that the union did not discriminate against him.
But three days after the settlement of the month-long bus strike, the union allowed Ilae to run for president after he presented information verifying that his dues were paid on time.
Earlier, officials said turnout for the election was high. More than 2,300 union members had voted by Oct. 26, according to League of Women Voters elections coordinator Arlene Ellis.
All votes were due Friday.
Union members also elected Millie Downey as vice president, Ron Kozuma as secretary-treasurer, Mark Komomua as recording secretary and Vidal Ranion, Mel Vendiola and Francis "Coach" Silva as trustees.
In addition to bus workers, Local 996 represents hospital employees and drivers for United Parcel Service, American Linen and various trucking companies.
During the month-long bus strike, Kahele was sometimes publicly criticized by his own members, but the union never broke ranks during the walkout. In the end, members voted 948-109 to ratify a five-year contract that includes a 50-cent-an-hour wage increase in the fourth year and a 65-cent increase in the fifth year. Pension contributions will increase 20 cents in each of the last three years of the contract.
