12 July 2021: Cracks Develop in Cuomo's Union Support

Gov. Cuomo loses NY transit union support amid ongoing scandals

This report covers the first major break of Governor Cuomo's union support in response to his many scandals.

The governor’s grip on power in Albany suffered a big blow amid mounting scandals — with the head of the state’s largest transit union saying he is looking for another horse to back in next year’s race.

“I didn’t go to Cuomo’s recent fundraiser. I’m over him,” TWU International President John Samuelsen told The Post after nearly every other top labor leader in the state stumped for Cuomo at the June 29 high-dollar soiree.

The powerful national head of Transport Workers Union, which represents 48,562 subway and bus workers in New York, is looking for an alternative to the scandal-tarred incumbent.

“Am I considering an alternative to Cuomo for governor? Absolutely. Definitely,” he said. “We are not going to continue to support dishonest brokers — and Cuomo is one. I’m not going to support a guy who doesn’t support my members.”...

Samuelsen said other unions will abandon ship if Attorney General Letitia James finds he broke the law and harassed female staffers.

“How could the labor movement support someone for governor who engaged in workforce criminality, sexual harassment? Look what happened to Scott Stringer,” he said, referring to how decades-old unproven sexual harassment claims derailed the city comptroller’s mayoral candidacy.

“If Cuomo is found guilty in the report, you will see the trade unions start pulling away from him. No doubt about it. If the report demonstrates Cuomo violated workplace laws regarding sexual harassment, he should go [resign]. You’ll see his support evaporate if there are findings of guilt.”

Samuelsen also described the shallow nature of Cuomo's support among labor unions: "Cuomo doesn't have friends in organized labor. He has unions who have short-term interests in front of the governor."

How many similar stories will emerge in the next several months?