Developers envision Penn's Landing park as next phase of riverfront renovation

FOR DECADES, everyone from citizens to city leaders to developers has cursed Interstate 95 for cutting the city off from its waterfront. But with weedy, trash-strewn lots, crumbling piers and industrial sites hogging up acre after acre, the waterfront sometimes seemed a place unworthy of visiting anyhow.

Now the city wants to bring the people to the river by overcoming the most significant, planned, barrier known to man, Interstate 95.  It plans on accomplishing this worthy goal through the execution of one of the largest ever heavy & civil projects in the region!  Read more here…

Pennsylvania Convention Center Board Approves Issuance of RFP for Operations Management Firm

The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) voted today to move forward with the formal issuance of a Request for Proposals for private operations management services.  Read more here….

ATF offers $15K reward for six Temple arson fires

A reward of up to $15,000 is being offered for information leadings to arrests in a series of arson fires set at a Temple University construction site earlier this week.  Read more here….

Six fires in two days at Temple University construction site

Federal and city authorities are investigating six small fires set over the last two days at the construction site for a new high-rise residence hall at Temple University.  Read more here….

Temple program empowers minority firms

A great program developed by a team of committed constructors and development professionals in the region. I am really looking forward to watching it develop and measuring the program’s success for the community and Skanska USA.  Read more here..

Gay steelworker sues Conshohocken plant over partner benefits

A WEST Conshohocken steelworker has sued his employer and the board of trustees of the Steelworkers Health and Welfare Fund for denying insurance coverage to the his husband. Read more here…

AFSCME President Slams Pat Quinn, Michael Nutter As 'Turncoats' Who Must 'Pay'

WASHINGTON -- One of the top labor leaders in the country ripped into two prominent Democratic lawmakers Monday morning, calling them "turncoats" and unfavorably comparing them to high-profile anti-union Republicans. Read more here....

PENSIONS: Nutter Appeal To Ct. Could Trigger Labor War

AFSCME District Council 33 President Pete Matthews responded to a lawsuit filed by Mayor Michael Nutter in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court at a press conference last night.  Read more here…

PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER BOARD ISSUES RFP FOR OPS MANAGEMENT

AMERICAS - The Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) has voted to issue a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for private operations management services at the venue.  Read more here….

Head Of Philadelphia Trade Unions Supports Convention Center Privatization Inquiry

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A top Philadelphia union leader says he’s fully behind a move by the board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center to look at potentially privatizing the center’s management.  Read more here.....

Convention Center board votes to seek privatization proposals - Inquirer

“Timing was a clear impetus for the top-down review.” “Collective-bargaining agreements and the 10-year customer-service agreement are set to expire in the next few months.” "This is a good time to undertake this sort of review," Fox said.  Really?  In the midst of collective bargaining, it is a good time to transition leadership?

Read the Inquirer article here.....

Pa. Convention Center Authority votes to pursue private operator

“Our goal is to ensure the newly expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center meets its full potential as an economic driver for the city of Philadelphia, the region, and the state,” convention center Chairman Gregory J. Fox said.”  Read more here…..

Union: Nutter threatens public employees statewide

The president of District Council 33, Philadelphia’s blue-collar union, held a news conference Wednesday, slamming Nutter’s recent decision to ask the Common Pleas Court for permission to impose a new contract on District Council 33.

Nutter is now pressing the state Supreme Court to hear the case right away. Read more here....

Nutter asks state Supreme Court to intervene in contract dispute

The Nutter administration asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to immediately hear its argument for imposing a contract on 6,800 blue-collar municipal workers. Read more here….

Looks like more good money chasing bad.

Business, unions negotiating guest worker program

WASHINGTON - Business leaders and labor union officials are delving into high-stakes negotiations over a particularly contentious element of immigration reform , a guest worker program to ensure future immigrants come here legally

An interesting read.  Read more here….

Newspaper handlers’ union ratifies contract

The union representing paper handlers at The Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News ratified a new two-year contract Monday after having rejected a tentative agreement Friday.  Read more here....

Nutter sues for right to impose contract terms on 6,800 city workers

The Nutter administration filed suit Friday seeking permission from Philadelphia Common Pleas Court to impose new contract terms - including modest raises, potential furloughs, reduced overtime, and a new pension model for future employees - on about 6,800 workers represented by AFSCME District Council 33.  Read more here.....

Stagehands at Philadelphia Theatre Company agree to contract, ending strike

The 27 members of Local 8 of the International Association of Theatrical and Stage Employees approved a three-year deal that gives them, Read more here....

Nutter will ask court to let him impose terms on DC 33

After years of stalemate, the Nutter administration on Friday asked a judge to allow the city to impose his "final offer" on the city's largest union.   Read more here…. 

IATSE Local #8 and Philadelphia Theater Company reach a tentative agreement.

Deal reached at 2:11 am on Friday, February 1, 2013.  Congratulations to both Management and Labor.  The show must go on!