The Transport Workers United union dislikes Gov. Kathy Hochul so much, it’s not only refraining from endorsing her – its international president, John Samuelsen, is now urging the umbrella labor organization it’s part of, the New York State AFL-CIO, not to support her as well.
In a letter obtained by City & State, Samuelsen implored AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento to not endorse Hochul’s reelection. A longtime ally of Hochul’s – even through difficult moments, like when she angered labor leaders with her initial chief judge pick in 2023 – Cilento is likely to endorse the governor no matter what. But that didn’t stop Samuelsen, who did not mince his words in his missive sent Tuesday.
“There is no rationale for the State Fed, an umbrella organization of individual unions, to endorse this governor,” he wrote. “In fact, it is absolutely counter-productive to do so. … When workers who have been subjected to Hochul’s very real attacks see NY State’s largest labor body endorse her, their faith in organized labor will further erode.”
Samuelsen pointed to Hochul’s handling of various high-profile labor disputes in the recent past. Those included the wildcat strike of corrections officers around the state that resulting in thousands of firings, the Long Island Rail Road strike Samuselsen blamed Hochul for (she has maintained the federal government hurt negotiations) and an executive order to bring in out-of-state nurses during multi-hospital nurses strike earlier this year. TWU is in the midst of contentious contract negotiations with the MTA, which is controlled by Hochul.
The icing on the anti-labor cake, per Samuelsen, is that Hochul has vetoed union priority bills 70% of the time, a record he said is worse than many congressional Republicans. “When the democratic governor of New York is being bested by Republican congressionals, workers are truly in trouble,” Samuelsen wrote – though he didn’t cite a source for the claim.
While TWU will not endorse Hochul, the governor has picked up plenty of other union support for her reelection, a fact cited by Hochul’s campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika in defending the governor against Samuelsen’s letter. “Governor Hochul’s record is clear: raising the minimum wage, protecting workers’ rights, and creating good-paying union jobs across New York,” Chitika said in a statement to City & State. “It’s why labor has her back in this election – from 32BJ, DC37, HTC, and LiUNA, to IUOE 825, CSEA, RWDSU, UNITE HERE Local 100, CWA District 1, NYSUT, UUP and PSC-CUNY – with even more to come. TWU is welcome to join the family.”
The campaign also provided comment from DC37 Executive Director Henry Garrido, another union that is part of the state AFL-CIO. “As Governor, Kathy Hochul has proven to be a fierce fighter for New York’s working families,” he said. “At a time when workers’ rights are being ripped apart at the federal level, it is increasingly important that we elect leaders that will prioritize the needs of our members and all New Yorkers.”
