AFL-CIO On The Warpath

Below is an article about the AFL-CIO going after NYS Sen. Craig Johnson for, among other things, supporting charter schools.  Here's is an excerpt from Sen. Johnson's response:

 

I've been a strong proponent of Race to the Top legislation that would qualify New York for up to $700 million in federal funds. This is a bi-partisan initiative that also has the support of the Newsday, New York Times, New York Post and New York Daily News editorial boards. However, despite the fact that 99 percent of this federal funding would go to traditional public schools, union leadership has tried to kill this education reform legislation because it increases the cap on public charter schools, which don't necessarily have to be unionized. 

 

-----------------------

AFL-CIO On The Warpath (Updated)

Here's one of the flyers the AFL-CIO will be distributing today in Sen. Craig Johnson's Nassau County district has it unveils its first-ever mid-legislative session campaign targeting incumbent Democrats.

As I reported in my DN column this morning (second item), the 2.5 million member union, which is an umbrella organization for a host of labor affiliates, launched a leaflet campaign in lawmakers' home districts this morning that accuses them of leaving a "trail of broken promises" and betraying working men and women.

Also in the AFL-CIO's crossharis today is Deputy Senate Majority Leader Jeff Klein.

The flyer slams the two senators for everything from supporting charter schools and the creation of a fifth tier in the state pension fund to sufficiently failing to stand up to Gov. David Paterson when he refused to put funding for construction projects in budget bills.

"So many things need to get done, and we don't seem to be getting a hearing on our issues, so now is the time to push back," said AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes, who added that he's been pressured by his affiliates to do something about the dysfunctional Senate for well over a year.

A source familiar with the AFL-CIO's efforts said some of the Democrats' more marginal members – including Suffolk County Sen. Brian Foley, Buffalo Sen. Bill Stachowski and Jefferson County Sen. Darrel Aubterine – also are in the union's cross hairs.

So are Staten Island Sen. Diane Savino, Brooklyn Sen. Eric Adams and two Queens lawmakers: Senate President Malcolm Smith and Sen. Jose Peralta, the chamber's newest member

Labor has been increasingly frustrated with the dysfunctional Senate Democratic leadership, and the AFL-CIO, in particular, which counts among its members the building trades and public sector unions, has a history of being allied with the Senate GOP.

Hughes insisted to me that this campaign is about policy, not politics, and isn't being conducted with an eye toward helping the GOP regain the majority. But my source noted it will be "very difficult" for the union to endorse any of the senators it targets now when its members meet for their political convention in August.

UPDATE: Johnson released a lengthy statement in response to the AFL-CIO attack, noting he has been a "strong supporter" of a property tax cap and charter schools, was "proud" to support Tier V – "a move that will save Long Island taxpayers $8.5 billion and save this state $35 billion over the next three decades" – and has been urging teacher and public sector unions to sit down with elected officials to "hammer out revised wage agreements that reflect the current economic reality."

"If the union leadership believes that promoting my positions on these issues will help in their cause, more power to them," Johnson said. "However, I am confident that the residents of the 7th Senate district know, and appreciate, where I stand."