Carpenters ask Dem leaders to avoid Convention Center for DNC

CARPENTERS UNION boss Ed Coryell is urging Democratic leaders across the nation to avoid the Pennsylvania Convention Center during the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

In letters that went out Thursday to each of the 50 state Democratic committees, Coryell asked party honchos to "not plan or schedule any of your 2016 DNC events or functions at the Pennsylvania Convention Center" due to "unfair labor practices."

"We're asking our allies to stand with [us]" on this issue, Marty O'Rourke, spokesman for the union, told the Daily News today.

O'Rourke said the convention center's recent severing of ties to the union amounted to a "lockout." He said it boils down to a "disputed deadline" in signing a Customer Satisfaction Agreement to which the Carpenters actually agreed. Four other local unions signed on time.

Convention center spokesman Pete Peterson said the Carpenters "are growing more and more desperate."

"[Our] events are working well and running smoothly," Peterson said. "Their leadership is just saving some face."

Peterson said the center booked some DNC events already, including a "Political Fest" associated with the main festivities at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philly. The convention center's management continues to explore how the space can be set up for other events, he said.

Coryell's letter says that the convention center is "four very busy miles from the Wells Fargo Center" and that "avoidance  . . . should not prove inconvenient."

O'Rourke said that the Carpenters agreed to the work rules soon after the deadline, that continuing the dispute "doesn't make business sense," and that "reasonable people" would end the impasse.

The Carpenters plan to send the letter to other national and state officials and will continue "to pursue all protest avenues," O'Rourke said.

Mayor Nutter called the letter "unfortunate," and said that because the dispute was adjudicated by two labor authorities, "party leaders across the country . . . will draw the appropriate conclusions," according to his spokesman, Mark McDonald.

Peterson remained confident that despite the letter, "the center will be well-utilized," with various "balls and fundraisers," recalling that the 2000 Republican National Convention spawned "events thoughout the city."

Source: Philly.com