Union reps back local hiring law at developments that have been awarded tax abatements

Union reps back local hiring law
Saturday, February 17, 2007
By EARL MORGAN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

The Jersey City City Council introduced an ordinance Tuesday aimed at tightening requirements for the hiring of Jersey City residents as apprentices and workers at developments that have been awarded tax abatements.

The city's plan was unveiled during a news conference at City Hall earlier in the day that was attended by several members of the City Council as well as construction union officials.

Some of the same union officials at Tuesday's news conference attended the City Council caucus that night to show their support for the plan.

The council also introduced an ordinance that triggered a lottery awarding 12 affordable housing condominiums reserved for Jersey City artists in the Waldo Lofts at 159 Second St. The lottery winners' names are included in the ordinance.

Although the city has tried in the past to create a program that will ensure that city workers are hired on construction sites, city officials saw the appearance of trade union officials at the press conference and the caucus meeting as an encouraging sign.

But city officials concede that if developers can demonstrate that they have made documented attempts to hire local residents, they won't be held accountable if the 20-percent local hiring goal is not met.

June Jones, chairperson of the Morris Canal Redevelopment Coalition, complained during the meeting that neither her organization nor a number of other community groups who met with city officials on a regular basis to hammer out an ordinance were acknowledged or made aware of the press conference.