From the Star-Telegram online -
Discarded ballots would tip flight attendants' vote
By Trebor Banstetter
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
FORT WORTH _ John Ward, who was re-elected president of the American Airlines' flight attendants' union earlier this year by a wafer-thin margin, would not have won the post if 16 discarded ballots had been counted, federal investigators found Thursday.
Officials with the Department of Labor, who have been investigating the election, told union leaders that 14 of the 16 ballots in question had been cast for challenger Tommie Hutto-Blake. Those ballots would have given Blake a seven-vote victory in the race for president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.
The finding, however, will not immediately impact the union's leadership, union officials said. Federal officials told union leaders that the investigation is continuing, and no actions would be taken until it concludes next month.
The labor department began reviewing the election after complaints were filed by Hutto-Blake supporters. The uncounted ballots were originally discarded because of questions over the validity of the voters' membership in the union.
Ward was a key figure in crafting last year's concessions deal, which cut American's labor costs and kept the airline out of bankruptcy.
Trebor Banstetter, (817) 390-7064
[email protected]