Laborers, union reps and fuel executives gathered at the Grand Aleutian Hotel to hear the results. (Lauren Rosenthal/KUCB)

Update, 7 p.m. Wednesday: Delta Western fuel workers in Unalaska have voted in favor of unionizing.

The Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific got the support of a slim majority -- eight of 15 eligible employees. 

David Schaff of the National Labor Relations Board ran the election and tallied the votes. Schaff said there were some challenged ballots. But according to NLRB rules, there's no need to examine challenged ballots after a majority vote.

Schaff said that both sides have a week to file objections related to the election.

3 p.m. Wednesday: Fuel supply workers in Unalaska are taking an official vote on whether to unionize.

The polls opened for eligible Delta Western employees this afternoon at the Grand Aleutian Hotel. They have to decide if they want to join the Inlandboatmen's Union -- the marine division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

Today's vote comes after two months of labor strikes and the filing of a federal complaint. The workers alleged that their managers at Delta Western resorted to illegal punishments and intimidation tactics to keep them from joining the Inlandboatmen's Union.

The complaint was filed with the National Labor Relations Board. The NLRB has sent an agent to Unalaska to oversee today's vote and count up the ballots once the polls close at 6 p.m.

If a majority of eligible workers vote yes, Unalaska would become the only unionized Delta Western terminal in the state of Alaska.