In Middlesbrough, Labour's Andy McDonald, a solicitor for a tradeunionlaw firm and former councillor, won with 10, 201 votes to UKIP candidate Richard Elvin's 1, 990.
Though some of his officials are taking a more conciliatory line, Mr Chavez himself has shown no signs of backing down from his plan to approve a new trade-union law, and then to organise elections for union leaders.