Metro

AFL-CIO declines to endorse Cuomo for re-election

ALBANY — The AFL-CIO is taking a pass on next month’s Democratic primary for governor — so it won’t have to endorse Gov. Cuomo.

The 2.5-million-member labor organization decided Monday to back Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for another term — without mentioning Cuomo (left), who faces challenges in the Sept. 9 primary from Fordham Law Professor Zephyr Teachout and comedian Randy Credico, a perennial candidate.

Just last week, the New York State United Teachers also declined to endorse the governor.

The teachers, who are affiliated with the AFL-CIO, have been at odds with Cuomo over an evaluation system and his support of charter schools.

The snub by the massive labor umbrella organization is the third by a leading union group and perhaps the most stinging, since it backed him four years ago by saying, “Organized labor has long enjoyed a close working relationship with Andrew Cuomo.”

Another union, the 55,000-member Public Employees Federation, recently went a step further by endorsing Teach­out.