More challenges in Convention Center dispute

Lawyers for the Convention Center filed an emergency motion on Friday to vacate a Pennsylvania labor relations hearing examiner's decision to reconsider the ban that keeps union carpenters from working there.

In March, hearing examiner Jack E. Marino dismissed complaints by the Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters and Teamsters Local 107 alleging that the two unions had been improperly barred from working at the Convention Center. On April 16, Marino reopened the issue, writing that there could be merit to their complaints.

Convention Center officials said no new evidence was introduced to justify Marino's reversal of his original order upholding the ban on Teamsters and carpenters, issued on Feb. 2. Lawyers in their filing with the state Labor Relations Board said Marino "acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner."

The reversal, Convention Center lawyers wrote, questions the integrity of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board. Marino's failure to provide any reasons, they said, "raises the specter of serious impropriety, including allegations of public corruption and improper political influences."

Convention Center lawyers have asked for a reinstatement of the Feb. 2 order or for an independent hearing examiner to replace Marino in this case.

The carpenters and Teamsters lost the right to work in the building after failing to sign a new customer-satisfaction agreement by a management-imposed deadline last May. Four other unions that worked in the building signed before the deadline. Both unions signed a few days later, but the ban stood.

After the carpenters and Teamsters lost jurisdiction in the building, their work was divided among the remaining four unions.

William Hamilton, head of Teamsters Local 107, said in April that Marino's reversal was "positive news."

"It will give a forum," Hamilton said, "to at least hear the facts."

215-854-2928 @MattGelb