Departure of Overseer Could Delay Teamster Vote

The sudden departure of the Teamsters’ election overseer leaves unsettled the political future of the union’s president, Ron Carey, and could delay the rerun vote for the leadership of the nation’s biggest private-sector labor organization.

Barbara Zack Quindel, the court-appointed election officer, recused herself late Tuesday from the investigation into Carey’s reelection victory last year over challenger James P. Hoffa. She cited conflict of interest stemming from ties with a former Carey political consultant to both a member of her staff and a political group, the New Party, to which she belongs.

Quindel left without deciding whether to disqualify Carey from running in the new election because of his possible involvement in the illegal diversion of union funds into his campaign. The initial vote was voided because of the election finance scheme.

The uncertainty also raises concerns that talks on a new trucking industry contract could be undermined.

Carey is still running the union as the incumbent president and is preparing to begin negotiations on the national contract with the long-haul trucking industry, which expires in March.

Preliminary talks have already begun between the union and Trucking Management Inc., which represents the largest trucking companies, including Yellow Corp., Roadway Express Inc. and Consolidated Freightways Corp.

Quindel’s departure is expected to delay a ruling on Carey’s ability to participate in the rerun and could easily delay the new election until January or beyond. Quindel previously had proposed a three-month campaign with balloting in December.

Carey has pushed for a speedy election, which could help him take advantage of support he gained for his handling of the United Parcel Service strike in August.