At the Endorsement Conference held recently in Albany President Iannuzzi, NYSUT president and AFL-CIO vice president, addressed delegates prior to the vote to explain NYSUT's decision to abstain. He cited the four compelling reasons why NYSUT's Board of Directors voted last week not to endorse Cuomo at this time: his positions on property tax caps and a state Constitutional Convention, his plan to "Clean up Albany," and the threat of a Tier VI pension level. Iannuzzi acknowledged Cuomo has supported labor in the past, but said Cuomo's current positions are unacceptable and "NYSUT's endorsement means something."
The 600,000-member union also deferred making an endorsement in the attorney general’s race until later, and withdrew its longstanding support for a number of incumbent state senators and Assembly members, saying they have abandoned their long-time commitment to supporting public education and protecting the rights and benefits earned by public sector workers.