Best I can offer is Jeff Crecelius already published first hand take on the event.
Just got back from the first ever APFA Presidential candidate Debate.
What a refreshing surprise it turned out to be! First of all, Tommie
Hutto-Blake blew away all the myths and rumors once and for all
regarding her so-called "concessionary leanings" as she's been
portrayed by the Ward camp. "I am not the concessionary candidate.
John Ward is the concessionary candidate ....as is evidenced by the
concessionary contract that he produced last year."
It was obvious that Tommie is a much tougher cookie than Ward has
made her out to be - she was cool, yet passionate in the pressure of
the debate.
Ward, meanwhile, although stiff, did have a few good responses. He
tended to ramble quite abit though, and seemed to get off track on
certain questions. He was able to keep his arrogance in check at
first, but his delivery became more and more strained as the debate
wore on. It was obvious that he was struggling to maintain his
composure while on the hotseat.
Putting to rest the false assertions- and only campaign issue of the
Ward slate, Tommie stated, "I WILL NOT GIVE ONE SENIORITY NUMBER TO
FORMER TWA F/A'S. THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL RETURN TO AA PROPERTY IS
WHEN A RECALL OF FURLOUGHED F/A'S REACHES A SENIORITY DATE OF APRIL
10, 2001 - WHICH IS THE SENIORITY DATE OF ALL FORMER TWA F/A'S."
The candidates stand in stark contrast when it comes to having plans
for APFA'S future. Tommie has precise answers to offer as far as
concrete plans for the future, John can only state that he wants to
prepare for the next round of negotiations and wants a chance to
be "a normal president for awhile" whatever that means? If John
hasn't been president for the past 4 years, then WHO HAS?
Tommie scored on the issue of reduced rest. While John throws in the
towel, saying "the rule is what it is and it could take 20 years to
change", (referring to the FAA minimums that we live with under his
concessionary contact); Tommie unveiled a passionate plan for
storming Capitol Hill, the media, and our customers with stories of
real-life f/a's hardships under this rule, with an eye to change the
rule thru hard work. She also mentioned that it's incredible that
the contract we're now living under takes us back in some respects to
the 1940's.
There was so much more, in the nearly two hours Tommie offered solid
plans for APFA's future; John never did articulate ANY solid plans
other than "preparing for potential early opening in 2006
negotiations." That, and his continual reference to the bogus
seniority issues, which Tommie has clearly stated time and time again
are ludicrous lies, seem to be Ward's only "plan" to undo the damage
he's done to our union and our contract.
Jeff Crecelius/MIA
