Mario Cilento was re-elected unanimously by the delegates of the 33rd Constitutional Convention of the New York State AFL-CIO to a four- year term as president. The convention took place this week in New York City.
As president, Cilento represents 2.5 million members from 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector and building trades unions throughout the state. NYSUT is an AFL-CIO affiliate; NYSUT President Karen Magee placed Cilento’s name in nomination for re-election.
Cilento thanked the delegates, telling them: “I am honored, humbled and privileged to have the opportunity to continue to serve the labor movement in our state and I will work tirelessly over the next four years to improve the lives of working men and women and their families.”
Cilento called labor’s legislative, political and grassroots victories over the past four years unprecedented. He went on to list several of labor’s key accomplishments, including: the Fight for $15, Paid Family Leave, Safe Patient Handling legislation, Veterans Service Credit, an increase and indexation of Unemployment Insurance benefits, Industrial Development Agency Reform, and saving jobs at Alcoa in Massena and at the Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant in Oswego.
“In addition, labor prevented changes to the workers’ compensation system that would have been detrimental to injured workers and ensured the Scaffold Law continues to help keep men and women safe on job.
“These victories show what we can achieve when the Labor Movement coordinates its actions and makes its collective voice heard. Because, when 2.5 million members speak as one, we are impossible to ignore,” Cilento said.
Also re-elected was Secretary-Treasurer Terrence Melvin.
In thanking the delegates Melvin said, “I am pleased to report that we continue to be fiscally sound and in fact have more resources to expand and enhance our operations to the benefit of all of our affiliates putting us in an even better position to face the challenges that lie ahead.”
Cilento thanked members of the New York State AFL-CIO Executive Council who were also elected during the convention, calling them the best and most successful labor leaders in the country. Members of the council include Magee, NYSUT Executive Vice President Andrew Pallotta, NYSUT Vice President Paul Pecorale, AFT President Randi Weingarten, UFT President Michael Mulgrew and UUP Secretary-Treasurer Rowena Blackman-Stroud.