Friday, June 6, 2014

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka Pushed For Endorsement Of Cuomo

Those of you paying close attention to the machinations of the union leadership around the Cuomo re-election campaign will not be surprised by this news:

Before a deal was made to ensure New York’s leading progressive party endorsed Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s reelection bid, negotiators were in touch with one of the top labor leaders in the country.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said Thursday in an interview with BuzzFeed that he “spoke to some people” as the deal was being forged, though he wouldn’t say to what extent he participated in the negotiations.

The deal between Cuomo and the Working Families Party was arranged by party leaders, which include top state labor leaders and activists, though many of those who attended the nominating convention opposed putting Cuomo on the ballot line. Many in the party, including those who worked the deal, remain skeptical that Cuomo will uphold his end of the bargain.

When asked if he trusted Cuomo, Trumka replied, “We’ll let his record decide.”

I'd say it's amazing how all these union leaders have fallen all over themselves to ensure that an anti-union politician like Cuomo remains in power, but given how anti-union some of the actions of the union leaders are thse days, it really isn't.

It's all about power, privilege and access - that's all these union leaders care about.

1 comment:

  1. This goes way before - back to last summer/fall when Randi as part of the labor aristocracy which is part of the Dem party establishment pushed the split in NYSUT because Ianuzzi and crew as leaders of NYSUT had the power to block an AFL-CIO Cuomo endorsement. They don't really care now or need to have NYSUT actually endorse him - to give Revise NYSUT cover over charges of a sell-out.

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