Catherwood LibraryILR School

Despite the Central Labor Council?s recommendation to hold off making endorsements for the 2013 NYC municipal election until after the Democratic primary, various affiliates of the umbrella organization have gone ahead and announced their candidates of choice in the mayoral race. The result is a fragmented bloc, with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union of 45,000 members endorsing City Council Speaker Christine Quinn; the SEIU Local 1199 of 200,000 members endorsing Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and Local 1180 of the Communication Workers of America endorsing city Controller John Liu. One of the city?s most influential voting blocs, the American Federation of Teachers, is scheduled to announce their endorsement June 19. The disunity among individual unions within the parent organizations will likely render both the Central Labor Council and the Working Families Party spectators in the upcoming September 10 primary.