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.
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.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s new pricing plan that will charge drivers a minimum of $15 to enter Midtown Manhattan is set to start in June, according to reports.
The MTA has argued that the addition toll is aimed at curbing and easing peak-day congestion in Manhattan. The controversial plan will raise about $1 billion per year that would fund major upgrades to subways, commuter railroads and bus systems.
How much will drivers be charged?
Major highways, including the FDR Drive and the West Side Hghway, are exempt from the toll, but drivers will be charged if they exit onto a street in NYC’s central business district below 60th Street.
The rush-hour rates will be in place from 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays, according to reports. During non-peak hours, the toll will be about $3.75 for a car. On weekends, the full rate will be charged between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
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.