The Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO is a local labor federation and affiliate of the left-leaning AFL-CIO labor union federation. The organization claims to represent more than 250,000 workers who are members of affiliated local AFL-CIO labor unions. It supports a pro-union and broad left-leaning policy agenda at the state, local, and federal levels on issues including workers’ compensation, health care, immigration, and taxation. ^{1 2 3}

Background

The Long Island Federation of Labor is an affiliate of the national AFL-CIO and the New York State AFL-CIO. It is one of eight local labor federations in New York State with others including the New York City Central Labor Council, the Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body, and the Western New York Area Labor Federation. The organization is also affiliated with the New York State AFL-CIO and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk Counties and operates Long Island Jobs with Justice, the local affiliate of national pro-labor union advocacy group Jobs with Justice. The organization and other local labor federations support the legislative agenda of the New York State AFL-CIO and national AFL-CIO, which includes lobbying on behalf of various pro-union and left-leaning policies. ^{4 5 6}

The Long Island Federation of Labor is comprised of 160 local unions that have over 250,000 combined members. The organization is directed by a 32-member executive board that meets monthly while the entire membership of the organization meets every other month. The organization also facilitates coordination between local unions and hosts meetings of the unions’ political coordinators to advise the federation’s political agenda and interview candidates for public office. ⁷

Political Stances

The Long Island Federation of Labor supports a pro-union and broadly left-of-center policy agenda at the state, local, and federal levels on issues including workers’ compensation, health care, immigration, and taxation. The organization supported efforts by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) to raise taxes to direct more funding to public schools. ⁸

Other left-leaning positions stated by the organization throughout its website include support of the Affordable Care Act and supporting “sanctuary” policies across Long Island to prevent the deportation of illegal immigrants. ⁹

The organization also supporting the legislative agenda of the New York State AFL-CIO, its parent organization, which supports raising taxes, providing government-funded health care to all New York residents, and building off the Fight for $15 campaign to raise the minimum wage above $15 in New York City. ¹⁰

People

John Durso is the president of the Long Island Federation of Labor. He began his career in 1984 as a member of Local 338, a local union affiliated with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which is part of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), and eventually became president. As of 2021 he serves as both president of Local 338 and the Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO. He is also an international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), and a vice president of the affiliated Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), and a vice president of the New York City Central Labor Council. In addition, Durso is a member of the Town of Hempstead Labor Advisory Board, the Nassau County Living Wage Advisory Board, the Town of Oyster Bay Workforce Investment Boards, and was appointed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo to the Long Island Regional Economic Development Council. ^{11 12}

1. About.” Long Island Federation of Labor. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://longislandfed.org/about
2. “About.” Long Island Federation of Labor. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://longislandfed.org/about
3. “Health Care.” Long Island Federation of Labor. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://longislandfed.org/content/health-care
4. “Local Labor Federations.” New York State AFL-CIO. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://nysaflcio.org/local-labor-federations
5. “About.” Long Island Federation of Labor. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://longislandfed.org/about
6. “2021 Legislative Agenda.” New York State AFL-CIO. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://nysaflcio.org/2021-legislative-agenda
7. “About.” Long Island Federation of Labor. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://longislandfed.org/about
8. “Education.” Long Island Federation of Labor. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://longislandfed.org/content/education
9. “Health Care.” Long Island Federation of Labor. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://longislandfed.org/content/health-care
10. “2021 Legislative Agenda.” New York State AFL-CIO. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://nysaflcio.org/2021-legislative-agenda
11. “Leadership.” Local 338. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://local338.org/at-a-glance/local338-leadership
12. “Long Island Federation of Labor President John Durso is Sticking with the Union.” Long Island Press. February 24, 2020. Accessed October 7, 2021. https://www.longislandpress.com/2020/02/24/long-island-federation-of-labor-president-john-durso-is-sticking-with-the-union/