District 1199J Endorses Commissioner Bill O’Dea for Jersey City Mayor

JERSEY CITY – District 1199J, of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, proudly announces its endorsement of Commissioner Bill O’Dea for Mayor of Jersey City. The union, representing over 10,000 healthcare and public employees across New Jersey, is committed to supporting O’Dea’s candidacy and his vision for the city.

In a statement, 1199-J President Susan Cleary expressed strong support for Commissioner O’Dea, saying, “We are pleased to inform you that upon the officers’ recommendations, our executive board and delegate assembly, District 1199J has endorsed your candidacy for Mayor of Jersey City. We in District 1199J have pledged our support to you and your campaign to bring about a successful victory in November 2025 and wish you well in your effort. You can certainly count on us to assist you in any way we can.”

District 1199J, New Jersey’s original healthcare union, was formed in 1977 and represents a wide range of healthcare and public employees. The union’s members work at nearly 70 facilities and institutions throughout the state and represents workers at Jersey City institutions such as CarePoint Hoboken University Medical Center, Jersey City Medical Center, Hudson County, and Community Education Centers.

“I have worked with 1199J for three decades, from stopping efforts at union busting at the Jersey City Medical Center, to ensuring that they get fair contracts from the County,” said O’Dea of the endorsement. “I have always appreciated the strong working relationship I have had with the leadership and management of 1199J and I look forward to bringing their membership into the fold and activating their organizing power to lead the ‘Our City. Our Choice.’ slate to victory.”

Commissioner O’Dea has built a substantial grassroots, volunteer-driven campaign with support from a wide network of community-based organizations, Jersey City residents, and local labor unions. His decades of public service as both a county and local elected official, coupled with his unquestionable personal integrity, have laid a strong foundation for his citywide organizing campaign, which will be significantly ramped up in the coming months.

District 1199J’s endorsement underscores the growing momentum behind O’Dea’s candidacy and his commitment to addressing the needs of healthcare workers and public employees. O’Dea’s campaign focuses on creating a more equitable, just, and vibrant Jersey City, with policies that support working families and prioritize community well-being.

For more information about joining Commissioner O’Dea’s people-powered campaign for Jersey City Mayor, please visit www.billodeajc.com.

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