Pa. Convention Center gets restraining order against Carpenters union

The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) has secured a temporary restraining order against one of the unions barred from working at the facility after it said exhibitors experienced disruption and vandalism over the weekend.

A judge on Saturday approved a temporary restraining order on the Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters following what the PCCA said were "planned and staged unlawful actions" during the Philadelphia Auto Show that same day.

"Based upon information uncovered in our investigation to date, we believe the Carpenters union leadership directed its members to engage in an organized effort to disrupt the Philadelphia Auto Show, demonstrating a reckless indifference to our customers, the region's hospitality industry and taxpayers," John McNichol, president and CEO of the Convention Center, said in a statement.

McNichol said exhibitors reported disruptive and destructive behavior such as fuses pulled from cars and vandalism. The Convention Center's staff monitored and responded to activity to mitigate disruptions to the show and its visitors.

The PCCA will be exploring all options as it moves forward, including pursuing potential civil and criminal charges, McNichol said.

The Carpenters, however, see the situation differently, and say they were exercising their rights.

"The Carpenters union exerted their First Amendment right to peacefully protest their unfair lockout from the Pennsylvania Convention Center this past Saturday," said spokesman Marty O'Rourke. "Over 200 union carpenters paid to enter the Convention Center and peacefully distributed over 20,000 flyers to people attending the Auto Show."

The Carpenters will continue protesting their being barred from the Convention Center and will update the public of their protests through social media and on its website.

This year's Auto Show was the first held at the Convention Center since new work rules were put in place last May. Work done by the two unions barred from working at the building — Carpenters and Teamsters Local 107 — has been spread out among the remaining four unions.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal