Multiple major unions that previously backed Gov. Andrew Cuomo and became key to his enduring political entrenchment have jumped ship since the release of a damning investigative report by Attorney General Letitia James.
“The first job of any elected official is keeping safe the people they serve; it is clear from the appalling findings of the Attorney General’s report, Governor Cuomo failed to do that,” Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, said Wednesday.
“We fought for and won the very worker protections that were violated; there must be accountability without exception,” he added. “Governor Cuomo can no longer lead the state.”
While the leader of the transit workers union recently said he was “over” Cuomo after supporting him in the Democratic primary in 2018, the governor still had allies in the organized labor movement.
But in a sign of how quickly the political winds have shifted against the governor in the face of the report’s stunning findings of potential criminal conduct and serial sexual harassment, building service worker union 32-BJ president Kyle Bragg — who like Cilento attended Cuomo’s pricey reelection fundraiser in late June — on Tuesday afternoon denounced him and said he should step aside.
“Creating work environments where sexual harassment is not tolerated is not a matter of politics, but principle,” he said Tuesday. “We urge the governor to resign and take responsibility for his well-documented actions and how they have hurt women and those who have devoted themselves to advance the interests of all New Yorkers.”
The statement continued, “And if the governor does not resign, we will support the state legislature’s actions to bring accountability to the office with all deliberate speed.”
The rebuke came after in 2018 the union gave thousands of dollars to Cuomo’s reelection campaign.
Labor unions that represent hotel workers, city workers, and teachers have abandoned the third-term Democrat as well.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the harassment perpetuated by Governor Cuomo. It is evident he is no longer fit to serve,” said DC37 executive director Henry Garrido in a statement Wednesday.
“The Governor must resign. If he does not, the Assembly must begin the process to impeach.”
DC37 endorsed Cuomo in 2018, when he ran in the Democratic primary against Cynthia Nixon.
The head of the Hotel Trades Council called the actions detailed in James’ report “disturbing” and said Cuomo should be removed from office if he doesn’t voluntarily leave it.
“The behavior described in the Attorney General’s report is deeply disturbing and should never be tolerated in any workplace. It is clear from the conclusions of the report that Governor Cuomo cannot continue to lead the state,” said HTC president Rich Maroko in a statement released Tuesday.
“If he does not resign, the Assembly should move promptly to impeach him.”
In the past, Cuomo had such strong ties with HTC that he in 2015 appointed former president Peter Ward to the MTA board.
For his part, New York State United Teachers President Andy Pallotta said Cuomo is “unfit” to serve as governor.
“The attorney general has detailed conduct that is repugnant and indefensible in any workplace and especially in the state’s highest elected office. Equally troubling was the governor’s response to the report,” said Pallottta.
“Sadly, both show he is unfit to serve in office.”
John Samuelsen, president of the Transportation Workers’ Union, told The Post the onslaught of unions declaring it’s time for Cuomo to go was inevitable.
“It was a no-brainer that this outcome would occur,” he said Tuesday. “The unions cannot continue to support a workplace violator.”
By Wednesday morning, 24 hours after the damning probe was released, the scandal-scarred governor was left with few backers, after former allies like Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Rodneyse Bichotte all abandoned him.
Democratic mayoral nominee Eric Adams, who stood alongside Cuomo at a joint event just weeks ago, also said it’s time for Cuomo to go.
Additional reporting by Carl Campanile
