Mayoral hopeful Andrew Cuomo Friday locked in the endorsement of1199SEIU, New York’s largest health care workers’ union, continuing a trend of organized labor organization lining up behind the former governor’s bid for City Hall.
The endorsement comes even though the union’s boss, George Gresham, demanded Cuomo’s resignation as governor in 2021 amid accusations that he sexually harassed nearly a dozen women.
In a statement, the powerful union said it opted to back Cuomo for mayor because he as governor helped raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 and expand paid family leave. The union represents 200,000 nurses, therapists, hospital support staff and other health care workers in the city
“At a time when our city is facing enormous challenges, we need leaders with the experience and vision to deliver real results — our members recognize that Governor Cuomo is the clear choice to lead New York forward,” said Gresham, a longtime Cuomo ally who has recently faced scrutiny from his union’s members amid allegations of financial mismanagement.
In a statement, Cuomo said he’s “honored” to have the union’s backing.
“1199SEIU members are the backbone of healthcare in New York, they are caregivers, nurses, social workers, housekeepers and so much more — both in our daily lives and in times of crisis,” Cuomo said.
Gresham’s group, which is also the city’s largest private sector union, endorsed progressive lawyer Maya Wiley for mayor in the 2021 election, which Eric Adams won.
Adams has dropped out of this summer’s Democratic mayoral primary and is instead seeking reelection as an independent in November’s general election, a move he made amid continued political fallout from the Trump Justice Department’s dismissal of his corruption indictment.
Cuomo, who’s polling as the clear favorite to win the June 24 Democratic mayoral primary, has been endorsed by a swath of other powerhouse unions in New York, including 32BJ and the Hotel Trades and Gaming Council, both of which also demanded his resignation as governor in 2021.
Cuomo has denied sexually harassing anyone, though he apologized upon resigning for making women feel “uncomfortable.”
In a significant break from the pattern of Cuomo’s block of labor support, DC 37, the city’s largest municipal workers’ union, endorsed Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for mayor earlier this week.
Henry Garrido, DC 37’s executive director, said at a press conference his union opted against backing Cuomo because of cuts he enacted as governor to benefits for public sector retirees in New York.
