New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and more than two dozen labor leaders respond to recent unwarranted criticism of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and the Assembly Majority

Albany - Speaker Heastie and his leadership team have been at the forefront in advancing the real priorities of hardworking New Yorkers. They have consistently stood up to protect worker rights including important worker safety legislation, bills to prevent wage theft and just recently the passage of legislation to create good middle-class jobs by clarifying that the definition of public works applies when taxpayer dollars are used on economic development projects.

From education funding to access to healthcare, and from transportation infrastructure to vital public services, there has been no stronger ally than the Assembly Majority.  With two weeks remaining until the end of the fiscal year, the Labor Movement looks forward to continuing to work with the Democratic conference to ensure the budget addresses the needs of our members and all working people.

Mario Cilento, President, New York State AFL-CIO
Stuart Appelbaum., President, RWDSU
Joseph, Azzopardi, Business Manager/Sec-Treas, IUPAT District Council 9
Denise Berkley, Statewide Secretary, CSEA Local 1000
Beverley Brakeman, Director, United Auto Workers
Rowena Blackman-Stroud, UUP
Kuba Brown, Business Manager/President, IUOE Local 94
John Bulgaro, President, Teamsters 294
James Cahill, President, NYS Building & Construction Trades Council
Rebecca Damon, President, NYS SAG-AFTRA
Daniel DiClemente, President, AFSCME Council 66
Jolene DiBrango, Executive Vice President, NYSUT
James Conigliario, General Vice President, IAMW Eastern Territory
Peter Corardi, National Business Agent, APWU
Patrick Dolan, President, Steamfitters 638 UA
Daniel F. Donohue, Statewide President, CSEA, AFSCME Local 1000
Greg Floyd, President, Teamsters 237
John Ford, President, IATSE Local 52
Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37
George Gresham, President, 1199 SEIU
Frederick E. Kowal, President, UUP
Richard Lanigan, International President, OPEIU Local 153
Jake Lemonda, President, UFOA
Gary LaBarbara, President, NYC Building & Construction Trades Council
Dominick Macchia, International Rep, IBEW
Rita Mason, President, AFGE Local 42
Daniel J. McGraw, President NYS Conference Operating Engineers
Michael Mulgrew, President, UFT
Andrew Pallotta, President, NYSUT
Paul Pecorale, Vice President, NYSUT
Ellen Redmond, International Rep., IBEW
John Samuelsen, International President, TWU Local 100
John Shinn, President, United Steelworkers District 4
Anthony Speelman, President, UFCW Local 1500
Wayne Spence, President, NYS Public Employees Federation
Ann Marie Taliercio, President, Unite Here Local 150
Dennis Trainor, Vice President, CWA District One
William Walsh, Statewide Treasurer, CSEA
Peter Ward, President, Unite Here Local 6

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The New York State AFL-CIO is a federation of 3,000 unions, representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families with one goal; to raise the standard of living and quality of life of all working people. We keep New York State Union Strong by fighting for better wages, better benefits and better working conditions. For more information on the Labor Movement in New York, visit www.nysaflcio.org.