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Teamsters’ Leo Reed wins — again

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Cementing his standing as Hollywood’s longest-running labor leader, Leo Reed was reelected to his eighth term as secretary treasurer of Local 399, the union representing studio drivers, location managers and casting directors. Each term has lasted three years.

Reed defeated — or, as the union put it, ‘crushed’ — opponent Mitch Masoner, winning 81% of the ballots cast, the Hollywood local said in a statement Tuesday. The union has about 5,000 members.

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The veteran union leader, who has been at the helm for more than two decades, campaigned on recent contract gains, including pay raises and improved health and pension benefits recently secured for studio drivers. The contract averted a potential walkout that would have widely disrupted film and TV production.

Masoner, a former business agent and driver, vowed to lobby Sacramento to keep film and TV production, which has been migrating out of state, in California.

Reelected with Reed were president Tony Cousimano, vice president Randy Peterson, recording secretary Rose Falcon and trustees Ed Duffy, Jack Fisher and Jon Hopton, the union said in a statement that praised Reed as ‘longest-serving and most successful officer in the local’s history.’

— Richard Verrier

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