Convention Center, stagehands' union investigate payroll practices

With the Democratic National Convention less than three weeks away, both the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the stagehands' union are investigating an alleged overbilling scheme by some of the union's top officers.

An accusation was made of signing in, and being paid, at more than one site, including the Convention Center.

Michael Barnes, who leads Local 8 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), has ousted Anthony Tortorice Sr., vice president of Local 8, and his son, Jonathan Tortorice, the secretary-treasurer, a union source said.

Both men have responsibilities for dispatching union members to assignments at the Convention Center.

"IATSE Local 8's internal investigation into allegations against certain members employed at the Convention Center is ongoing," the union said in a terse statement Wednesday.

Reached on his cell phone Wednesday, Barnes hung up quickly, after promising to call back, but he did not.

The Tortorices could not be reached for comment.

The stagehands work at most of the region's theaters and concert venues and are currently working at the Wells Fargo Center to set up the Democratic National Convention.

Word of the investigation into a practice known as "ghosting" began to percolate last week, when Anthony Tortorice did not show up at the Convention Center as expected on June 28.

"In the course of the past month, the center initiated an internal review related to an individual who performs labor work at the facility," the Convention Center's Wednesday statement said.

Ghosting occurs when a union member works at one site, but signs in at multiple work sites and gets paid at each one.

A well-placed source at the Convention Center said it would be difficult for union members to "ghost" there because they sign in and sign out on paper forms and via a swiped card. While at the center, they are assigned to specific contractors who would be aware of what each worker is doing.

However, a steward, such as Anthony Tortorice, with responsibilities to oversee the entire stagehand workforce in the building, would be able to, without attracting attention, leave the Convention Center to work elsewhere.

"We are still gathering and reviewing information," a Convention Center statement said.

During the Democratic National Convention, July 25 to 28, the Convention Center will host a public exhibit centered on presidential politics, along with caucus meetings.

Whether the investigation goes beyond the Tortorices and practices at the Convention Center is unknown. So far, the Convention Center source said, there has been no request for information by any investigatory agency.

The 629-member stagehands union local was part of a group of four unions that ended up with more hours at the Convention Center after the carpenters' union lost the right to work there in May 2014.

Leading the labor coalition at the Convention Center was John Dougherty, who heads the politically powerful International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98.

On Wednesday, Dougherty characterized Barnes' actions as an example of unions responsibly policing themselves when trouble arises. Meanwhile, he said, union construction for the DNC at the Wells Fargo Center, including the stagehands, is running ahead of schedule.

"The labor community is very hospitable," Dougherty said. "What we did here is to show we're going to be very transparent, cost-effective and we're going to manage our own."

In 2015, Anthony Tortorice, as vice president, earned $35,921 a year, according to union documents. His son, Jonathan, earned $150,191 as secretary-treasurer, slightly more than Barnes' $150,017 compensation.

In November, Jonathan Tortorice arranged for himself, his father, and Barnes to be paid at a higher rate and receive a more generous auto allowance, $500 a month, up from $75 to $150.

Since the Local 8 upheaval occurred last week, the biggest change, a union source said, is a more equitable distribution of work based on seniority rather than on who was more closely allied with Jonathan Tortorice, who filled the majority of calls.

Source: Philly.com