Staff Reports
New reporting from the New York Post has put a spotlight on Gustavo Gordillo, a co‑chair of the New York City Democratic Socialists of America. The Post alleges he was removed from an IBEW electrician apprenticeship for repeated no‑shows and that he later took a paid DSA role reportedly worth about $95,000 a year. Whether you call it privilege, hypocrisy, or plain bad judgment, the story raises real questions about who gets opportunities in New York and who pays the price.
What the New York Post reported
The New York Post says IBEW Local 3’s Joint Apprentice Training Committee terminated Gordillo for “prolonged absence” and “failure to participate in required work and classes.” The Post also reports that Gordillo afterward held a paid position with NYC‑DSA with a salary reported at roughly $95,000. The Post is the source of those specific claims in public reporting so far, and the allegations have made headlines because Gordillo is a visible NYC‑DSA co‑chair who frequently talks about workers and unions.
Why this matters: socialism preaching vs. private privilege
This isn’t just a personnel squabble. It’s about the gap between activists who lecture on “workers’ rights” and the way they live and work. The Post says Gordillo’s parents helped pay rent and later bought him a house. His X handle reportedly still bills him as a “union electrician,” even though the apprenticeship termination is alleged. If true, that combination—lecturing about how hard life is for working people while leaning on family money and skipping apprenticeship duties—looks terrible. It’s also unfair to the person who might have used that apprenticeship slot to learn a trade and earn a living.
Verification gaps and what should happen next
Reporters and readers should note two important points: the IBEW quote and the $95K salary figure appear in the New York Post’s story and have not yet been posted as independent press releases by IBEW Local 3 or confirmed by a public NYC‑DSA payroll document. That doesn’t mean the Post is wrong. It means more documents should be produced. IBEW should release any apprentice‑committee notice or termination letter. NYC‑DSA should disclose payroll or Form‑990 items that show compensation. Gordillo should answer the charge directly: did he miss required work and classes, and how did he qualify for a high‑paying chapter role if that’s true?
This episode is a small test of transparency and accountability for a movement that proclaims it fights for working people. If leaders demand sacrifice from everyone else, they should be ready to show their own records. Voters and union members deserve straight answers, not slogans. Until the documents are public, treat the New York Post’s scoop as the lead to follow up on—not the final word—but don’t ignore the obvious irony either. Accountability matters, and so does who actually does the work they brag about.
