:Teamsters' local backs Kerry; Health care union to air ads in :

[Nicholas_J]

Iowa, New Hampshire

Less than a week after the powerful Teamsters union endorsed Dick Gephardt for president, one of the union's local affiliates is bucking the party line.

The Chicago Teamsters Local 705 announced Monday it is supporting Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry for president. The announcement comes on the eve of the AFL-CIO meeting in Chicago in which the Democratic candidates will gather for a presidential forum.

With nearly 21,000 members, Local 705 is the largest Teamster local union in Illinois and the second largest Teamster local in the country. But its numbers pale in comparison to the Teamsters' overall membership of 1.4 million.

Gerald Zero, the local's secretary-treasurer, said the choice was not part of any political dispute with the union's leadership and noted that his local sometimes disagrees with headquarters over political endorsements.

[DrFunkenstein]

1. This Is A Great Wedge

Although clearly the whole enchilada would be preferable, this sends a signal to teamsters with second thoughts about Gephardt where they should go for a pro-labor vote.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

2. The excitment is palpable.

[ProfessorPlum]

3. LOL

That was pretty funny.