Mario Cilento was reelected unanimously by delegates at the 32nd Constitutional Convention of the New York State AFL-CIO to a four-year term as president. Cilento was first elected president by the organization’s Executive Council in 2011 to complete the term of retiring leader Denis Hughes.
NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi, who heads a NYSUT delegation to the AFL-CIO convention, voiced the statewide union's strong support for Cilento's vision and leadership.
Cilento thanked the delegates for their faith and trust, and credited them s the strength of the labor movement. Cilento said: “We have 2.5 million members throughout the state – public sector, private sector and building trades -- and we’re going to make the most of that strength. We will educate and engage them year-round, from Buffalo to Montauk and Plattsburgh to Brooklyn. Elected officials will understand that there is a connection between legislation and politics, and those that do not support our members – their constituents – will not earn our support on Election Day.”
Cilento presented a plan to mobilize union members at home in the neighborhoods and communities in which they live. He spoke of better coordinating at the local level in terms of legislative, political, grassroots and communications activities to build a stronger statewide labor movement.
In addition, Cilento spoke of efforts to improve the perception of unions and their members to ensure that they are seen for what they are — hard working, skilled, tax-paying citizens.