Philadelphia family court project stalled with union trouble

Construction on Philadelphia’s new Family Court building is in a limbo because work was awarded to a non-union contractor. 

There is little if any work being done at the 16th and Arch site of family court. That’s because members of the Electricians Union are outside saying a non-union contractor is doing electrical work for the $140 million project. Electricians Union head John Dougherty said a union contractor was low bidder. He’s upset that company didn’t get the job.

“Well there are no formal pickets there,” said Dougherty. “Basically there’s a few people there who have been identifying that there is some form of awkwardness in the decision to award this to someone who is not the low bid by quite a few $100,000.”

Other factors in addition to price were used in awarding the contract. Workers from other unions have refused enter the site, so the project has stalled. The low-bidder company has filed a suit challenging the contract.