The International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 560 endorsed Hudson County Commissioner Bill O’Dea (D-2) for mayor of Jersey City well ahead of the non-partisan November 4th, 2025 contest.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“I am here today as I did Saturday to give our endorsement for Bill O’Dea for Mayor of Jersey City,” Teamsters 560 Business Agent Nick Jayme declared outside the Ideal Supply Company, located at 445 Communipaw Ave., this morning.
“He has answered our calls when we needed him, when we had issues with contractors when they tried to circumvent agreements. He was instrumental in establishing the Teamsters Local 560 CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) apprenticeship program with us.”
Jayme continued that their members are working class people who were born and raised in the city and appreciate a leader who has respect for collective bargaining agreements.
“Bill O’Dea has answered our call every time and has had our back. I know Bill O’Dea is a visionary and continues to be a friend to organized labor,” he added.
O’Dea was of course happy to accept the endorsement, which actually initially came at his campaign kickoff on Saturday.
“I am proud to receive the endorsement of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 560. The Teamsters know I have always had their backs. As mayor of Jersey City, I will continue to fight for fair wages, project labor agreements, and apprenticeship programs for the Teamsters and all unions”, said O’Dea.
“It’s an honor to have your support. I’ve worked very closely with this union, especially when they confronted issues related to problems … with Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). We had one less than 2 years ago with the county courthouse. The general contractor circumvented the agreement and did not utilize union Teamster drivers on trucks that were removing bringing materials to the site.”
O’Dea said the matter was eventually resolved amicably, noting that he has always and will always fight for PLAs to be fulfilled.
“We started project impact in 2014 one of the first unions that stepped up to provide opportunities to locals living in Jersey City to get into the union was Teamsters 560,” O’Dea explained.
“We were able to identify residents who had CDL licenses and were able to get them right into the union driving concrete trucks. Some of them we had to teach to drive a stick,” he noted. “I appreciate that commitment. This is what our campaign is all about.”
He said he wanted to create more similar opportunities and encouraged companies to recognize the union to benefit their workers.
Local 560 represents over 3000 Teamsters throughout New Jersey covering various industries and trades.
The press conference came just one day after the other declared candidate in the mayoral race, former Gov. Jim McGreevey, got the backing of LIUNA.
