The Jersey City Public Employees Local 245 union endorsed Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) for mayor, as well as his nine running mates for city council, at a press conference this afternoon.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Local 245 claimed it has endured six years without a contract with the City of Jersey City while delivering essential services, including during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, asserting that O’Dea has been their biggest advocate out of the seven mayoral hopefuls.
Union leadership said today O’Dea has repeatedly challenged the administration and city council, asserting that they have a fiscal and moral responsibility to reaching a new deal.
“They voted to endorse Bill O’Dea for mayor and his ticket … Bill O’Dea is a fighter and knows our struggle with the contract,” stated Local 245 President Santo Della Monica.
“This is an endorsement that’s really, really great to have,” O’Dea added.
O’Dea noted the cost of living has increased nearly 30 percent in Jersey City during that time and vowed to resolve the contract if necessary if he’s elected mayor.
“We gotta resolve that. They gotta get their retro pay … Show us where the money is,” O’Dea declared.
He said under the law, the city is required to reserve funds for contracts that have been signed.
“They’re gonna get huge retro checks for each and every year they didn’t get a raise,” O’Dea added, who emphasized including hazard pay during a State of Emergency in order to help raise the morale of employees.
He also committed to meeting with the union once a month as mayor.
“I think you’re fair, for the people, and will do good for the city,” Della Monica declared.
He noted that Local 245 represents 300 members in the Department of Public Workers (DPW) and the Department of Recreation.
O’Dea noted to need to address affordability issues, with Della Monica asserting that workers need to earn six figures to live in Jersey City.
Della Monica noted there recently was a state of emergency, but his members did not receive extra pay for working then, along with no extra COVID-19 pandemic pay during the official State of Emergency.
He also said he support then-Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop for mayor 2013, even volunteering for his campaign, but he said he now regrets it.
Local 245 unsuccessfully sued the city for what it believed was a violation of its contract, while Fulop told HCV in April that state of emergencies typically aren’t called off for days, long after any dangerous conditions exist, which is not fair to taxpayers.
O’Dea’s council slate is Pam Johnson in Ward A, trading endorsements with Joel Brooks in Ward B, Tom Zuppa in Ward C, Elvin Dominic Encarnación in Ward D, Daniel Israel in Ward E, Rev. Keith Garvin-Howell in Ward F, as well as Councilman Daniel Rivera, Kristen Zadroga Hart, and Saundra Robinson Green at-large.
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