On November 18th every Local 481 Teamster will be mailed a ballot to elect new union leaders. Vote Teamster Solidarity 481!
This is our chance to elect leadership that cares about all members by prioritizing strong negotiating, contract enforcement, transparency, modern technology, and clear communication. Vote Teamster Solidarity 481!
Join us on November 3rd at Polite Provisions from 3 PM - 6 PM for a pre-nominations happy hour! The bar will be open exclusively to members of 481 during this time!
RSVP HERE
Meet the Candidates
Erin Borgardt for Secretary-Treasurer
My name is Erin Borgardt, I’m an SDZWA Local 481 member that has a vision for 481 where all barriers to participation in the union are lifted for our members.
I have certified training in Grievance handling and arbitration from the Los Angeles Trade Technical College, has completed courses in Internal and External Union Organizing, and Contract Costing and Contract Drafting.
We should be using the full force of our collective power to advocate for better working conditions, living wages, and respect from all Local 481 Employers. Whether you work at Penske, Ace, UPS, SDZWA, you deserve communication and transparency. You deserve a union that is proactive and motivated to improve your life on the job every day.
Brandon Rowley for President
My name is Brandon Rowley, I’m an employee of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and have been a member of Local 481 throughout my 12 year tenure.
After joining the grassroots team effort to rally support from the membership at SDZWA for our most recent contract, I realized just how much our union was letting it’s membership down.
A union that operates under highly motivated staff has the potential to positively impact the lives of thousands of our working class colleagues. We have the opportunity to build a union that lives up to our highest ideals - a union that works hard every day for all of us, regardless of shop or job classification.
Jorge Sanchez for Vice President
Jorge is a 41-year Local 481 Teamster at the San Diego Zoo. He is an experienced communicator and has been a media spokesperson for both English and Spanish language media, a tour guide to United States Presidents, Congressmen, Admirals, and even the Dali Lama.
Jorge believes that our union has the potential to win stronger contracts and more respect on the job with more transparency and clear, direct communication.
“Unions are vital for better working conditions, better wages, and protection from unfair practices from employers. Unions are a great way to meet fellow members and expand our knowledge in improving work life for all of us. This is our opportunity to be more involved and help take the union in a better direction for each member.”
Cat Wintersteen for Recording Secretary
My name is Cat Wintersteen and I have been a Horticulturist for the Safari Park and 481 Teamster since 2023. Last year, I put my commitment to the rank-and-file of local 481 into action by becoming a shop steward, working to educate members on their union rights and support them in the workplace.
As recording secretary, I hope to further my commitment to informing, educating, and empowering the members of Teamsters Local 481.
Connie Real for Trustee
Connie is a twenty-year Teamster in the Buildings and Grounds Department at SDZWA. Connie is running for office because for too long our local union has been losing power while management has gotten stronger and more organized. That culminated in the loss of our pension five years ago.
We cannot keep doing the same thing and expecting different results. As a union officer, Connie will work to unite all members of 481. For the Zoo, she will make sure that B&G member concerns are heard. She will focus on union education so that all members know about our rights and benefits, and how to organize to protect and improve them.
Platform
Our union currently operates under a shroud of secrecy. The most basic of information is so difficult to acquire that it can feel as though it is being purposefully withheld. It doesn’t have to be this way. We promise transparency, ease of access to information, and a communication style that treats everyone like we are on the same team - because we are.
Transparency
Our union currently operates as if it was frozen in time in the 1960s. Whether its a non-functional website, cumbersome paperwork to complete simple tasks, or the way our data is stored, our Local is simply not equipped for the modern era or the future. We will modernize our union utilizing the latest and most efficient technology that reflects the needs of our members, and increases accessibility for everyone.
Modernization
Union members have faced inferior contracts for too many years. If a contract is subpar, union leadership should tell you that it is subpar. They should then be strategizing with the membership to vote down those contracts and fight for more. Further, resources available from the broader network of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters should be utilized more frequently. We promise to do just that.
Strong Negotiations
It has become far too common to hear stories about union members being taken advantage of by their management, often in direct violation of a legally binding contract. Whether this happens due to a membership that is unaware of their rights, lack of shop stewards with too few resources, or failure to follow through by union leadership, we can do so much better.
We will educate the membership, provide them with the necessary resources to fight back against unjust business practices, train more shop stewards, and take every concern raised to the leadership with sincerity.
Contract Enforcement
The membership should not have to go out of their way to ask for updates on negotiations, meetings, or upcoming events. There is currently no efficient way for union leadership to effectively communicate with the membership, other than letters in the mail or emails that only get sent to a select group of members. We promise to frequently and transparently communicate the happenings of Local 481 as it relates to what is most important to you.
Communication
By encouraging other working class people that are not currently unionized within the umbrella of companies represented by Local 481, in addition to other businesses in San Diego, we can build a larger and stronger union. Not only will this help protect more working class people, it will bring in more revenue to our Local that can be utilized to hire more staff, provide stipends to shop stewards, secure more robust and high quality legal representation, and grow our strike fund.
Expand our Union
Endorsements
Election Information
Elections are on December 11th, 2025 - just a few months away! The candidates listed on this site will be nominated through a formal process on November 3rd to make their candidacy official, and then you will have the opportunity to elect them to Local 481 the following month. Ballots will be mailed on November 18th. If you do not receive your ballot by November 25th, you may request a duplicate ballot by reaching out to Unilect - the independent third party running this election - at 1-866-466-6455. The deadline to request a duplicate ballot is December 4th. In order to have your ballot counted, mail it back from any post office as soon as possible, or have it dropped off directly to the Unilect Post Office Box (address to be determined) by 9:00 AM on December 11th. Make sure Local 481 has your most recent address on file by calling 619-282-2187 extension 3, and speaking to Loni. Please note that The union will not have ballots available in the union office
In summary, a timeline of important election dates:
November 3rd: Formal nomination of election candidates.
November 18th: Ballots are sent to all eligible union members of Local 481.
November 25th: Start date for the opportunity to request a duplicate ballot if you have not yet received one by mail.
December 4th: Deadline to request a duplicate ballot if you have not yet received one by mail.
December 11th: Election day! Make sure your ballot has been mailed several days in advance before this date in order to be received and counted by December 11th, or drop it off directly to the Unilect Drop Box by 9 AM on December 11th (location to be determined).
You will be voting on the following positions for the Teamsters Local 481 Executive Board
Secretary Treasurer
President
Vice President
Recording Secretary
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Get Involved
We want to hear from you! If you think of something that you want to see on our platform, have ideas of how Local 481 can better serve it’s membership, or would like to stay updated on our campaign, send us an email. We can not do this without your support! We can be reached at solidarity481@gmail.com or follow us on instagram at @teamstersolidarity481
