Agreement ends labor protest over U.S. Open at Merion

The U.S. Golf Association has made deals with two local labor unions, ending protests over preparations for the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club.

Union representatives said Friday that the deal would bring full-time work for about 40 Philadelphia-area carpenters and a handful of stagehands leading up to the tournament from June 10 to 16.

The carpenters will set up 160,000 square feet of flooring for the spectator tents and walkways, as well as decorative elements and other infrastructure, union spokesman Ed Coryell Jr. said. Stagehands will set up speaker systems, projection screens, and other entertainment elements.

The USGA's current contractor, Classic Tents, will finish putting up the giant white tents, which Coryell said "was a tough pill to swallow."

"We looked at it like, over 50 percent of the tents are already up," Coryell said Monday. "But we got to a point where we were losing work every day."

Over several months of negotiations, the USGA argued that it could not hire union workers because it was bound by existing contracts.

USGA spokesman Joe Goode said Tuesday the organization was able to "amend" its contract with Classic Tents to have local carpenters take over the flooring.

"We're proud to have reached a good agreement with the unions and look forward to having its local members help ensure Merion is ready to host the very best U.S. Open," Goode said.

The protests began in March and intensified in recent weeks, with union members picketing, driving anti-USGA billboards around the Ardmore area, and posting the well-known inflatable rat outside the luxury spectator area at Haverford College.