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Commissioners make project‑labor agreement, first‑source hiring conditions for Koppers Cove approvals
Summary
Labor representatives told the Board they have a signed Project Labor Agreement in good faith with Mars Group for the Koppers Cove redevelopment. Commissioners and counsel said certain County approvals would be conditioned on a fully executed PLA and First Source hiring agreements that prioritize Kearny and Hudson County residents for permanent jobs.
During public comment on May 8, Patrick Kellerher of the Hudson County Building Trades urged the Board to ensure the Koppers Cove redevelopment moves forward under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that secures union work for county residents.
Kellerher said the National Building Trades PLA had been approved and that the Mars Group owners had given a good‑faith signature; he asked the county to press for a fully executed agreement so Hudson County residents will get priority work. Commissioner William O’Dea described specific language the Board added to the County’s approval conditions: the County will condition closing agreements on the satisfaction of a PLA in a form acceptable to the County and require that the Improvement Authority ensure work be performed under PLA terms. O’Dea also said a First Source agreement would give Kearny and Hudson County the first right to fill newly created permanent jobs and security positions.
County counsel and administration agreed to provide the Board with an update at the next meeting. Commissioners noted that the developer should execute the documents promptly before seeking municipal pilot agreements or other financing approvals.
Why it matters: The PLA and First Source language affect who works on a major redevelopment project and how the economic benefits are allocated locally. County conditioning approvals on an executed PLA is a lever that shifts leverage toward labor and local hiring.
