Head of powerful Transportation Workers Union warns members AFL-CIO rigging congressional ratings to benefit Dems

Rich Calder
·2 min read
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The head of the powerful Transportation Workers Union is warning members not to be “fooled” by the AFL-CIO’s recently published scorecards for U.S. Congress members — because the process is “deliberately biased” to boost Democrats.

TWU national president John Samuelson sent a letter Thursday to his union’s 155,000 transit workers, airline staffers and other members, saying the AFL-CIO “disincentivizes pro-trade union Republicans,” leading to a rigged result in favor of Democrats in its Legislative Scorecards released Feb. 29.

“Do not be fooled,” added Samuelson.

Samuelson in a letter to members said “DON’T BE FOOLED” by the AFL-CIO scorecards. TWU
Samuelson in a letter to members said “DON’T BE FOOLED” by the AFL-CIO scorecards. TWU
Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA have come under fire from TWU national president John Samuelson over a controversial plan to charge congestion pricing tolls to enter Midtown and Lower Manhattan. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock
Gov. Kathy Hochul and the MTA have come under fire from TWU national president John Samuelson over a controversial plan to charge congestion pricing tolls to enter Midtown and Lower Manhattan. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock

The AFL-CIO — which is comprised of 60 international and national unions, including the TWU — uses a “flawed” scoring process that fails to take into account key issues important to most members — even if just one affiliate group opposes them, he said.

This was the case with existing legislation TWU supports to reinstate pilots who were fired for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, he added

“This is especially true in this particular Congress, where the narrow Republican majority in the House means that very few bills are being brought to the floor at all,” he said.

Samuelson – who heads the biggest union representing MTA workers – fired off the letter the same day he exclusively told The Post the TWU expects a “massive confrontation” with Gov. Kathy Hochul and transit management over the proposed $15 daily congestion pricing toll to enter Midtown or Lower Manhattan.

Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) is favorite member of congress for the Transport Workers Union of America. ZUMAPRESS.com
Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.) is favorite member of congress for the Transport Workers Union of America. ZUMAPRESS.com

The letter notes that “some of the TWU’s strongest supporters” of issues important to union members are Republicans: including New York Rep. Marc Molinaro, Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon.

NYC Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) said Samuelson’s letter illustrates how Democrats are losing their hold over top unions.

“When people wonder why Republicans are gaining ground inside the labor movement, it’s because more union members see that their leadership is more focused on Washington partisan politics than who really stands for working people,” he said.

Reps for the AFL-CIO did not return messages.