Progress in convention dispute

Stuart Steers, Rocky Mountain News

Published December 22, 2006 at midnight

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Progress was made Thursday on breaking an impasse that has held up Denver's bid for the Democratic National Convention.

The Denver stagehands union, which would handle much of the inside construction at the convention, thus far has refused to sign a pledge not to strike or picket during the gathering. The Pepsi Center ordinarily uses nonunion crews, and the union has said it won't sign an agreement unless the Pepsi Center management agrees to negotiate.

Now national labor officials in Washington, D.C., are trying to find a compromise between the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local No. 7 and Denver's host committee.

"Folks in Washington are thinking creatively about what could work," said Leslie Moody, president of the Denver Area Labor Federation. "I've been getting calls from the national AFL-CIO."

Labor unions are a core constituency of the Democratic Party, and the convention can't be held in Denver unless all the unions involved sign off. Moody said it is premature to talk about a possible agreement, but she said labor's ultimate goal was to unionize the Pepsi Center.

"We're trying to figure out how to lift the wages and benefits of people at the Pepsi Center," she said.

Moody said she recognized that the Pepsi Center was privately owned and the city's influence over it was limited.

"It's not really something the city has direct leverage around," she said. "But the mayor could be helpful."

The Pepsi Center contracts with Rhino Staging, a Phoenix-based company, to handle stage set-up.

Because of the blizzard, union leaders and the Denver 2008 host committee haven't been able to meet and are holding discussions over the phone, said Debbie Willhite, head of the host committee. She said Denver must have its bid finalized by Jan. 2.

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has said he will choose in early January between Denver and New York City to host the convention.

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