Ultra-progressive union blasted for ‘hypocrisy and selling out members’By Isabel Vincent
Published Sep. 14, 2023
One of New York state’s most powerful unions is being accused of hypocrisy by refusing to invest its billions in diverse businesses and of selling out underpaid workers — while aiming a gusher of cash at progressive causes.
Service Employees Local Union 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers — best known as 1199 SEIU — helped propel then Public Advocate Bill de Blasio into two terms as New York City mayor, endorsed ultra-liberal Maya Wiley in her bid to succeed him and backs US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
It has given powerful endorsements to State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris (D-Queens), backed with cash for him and his “Friends of Mike Gianaris” PAC.
Gianaris is one of Albany’s most radical progressive Democrats, leading the push to end cash bail and ignoring warnings of rising crime in the wake of its abolition.
1199 SEIU’s president, George Gresham, bluntly told Gov. Kathy Hochul: “We don’t work for you — you work for us.”
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Source:
https://nypost.com/2023/09/14/ultra-progressive-union-1199-seiu-blasted-for-hypocrisy/
