United Brotherhood Wants To Build Merion's U.S. Open Tents

For Immediate Release from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners.

Joiners?

Anyway, your beef with the USGA...

For Immediate Release

ARDMORE, Pa., March 26, 2013 — The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners today called on sponsors of the U.S. Open to hire local tradespeople and halt the practice of importing workers and paying substandard wages in preparing for the men's national golf championship slated for June.

"It's a poor reflection on one of the best golf courses in the world, as well as the outstanding companies who are the primary sponsors of this event," Coryell said.  "They've brought in out-of-state, mostly temp workers, and they're paying them substandard wages with little or no benefits.  It's a slap in the face to the entire region to not use skilled, local tradespeople."

Coryell noted that in turning its back on the local workforce, the USGA is alienating a significant proportion of the local fan base.

"It's hard to afford tickets when you're not working," Coryell said. 

Pssssst...hate to interrupt, but it is a sellout. Okay, go on.

"But it's not too late to make things right.  We'll give the USGA a mulligan."

Look out Leno!

"This is the Main Line, not California or Virginia or Mexico," Coryell said.

Oh you didn't go and take shots at California now, did you?

"We live in this community, we pay taxes, our kids attend school here, and we support businesses that hire and pay fair wages to local workers."

He said Union members are protesting at the site and have fanned out in the surrounding communities to pass out flyers urging people to call Frank Bussey, director of U.S. Open operations, and urge him to hire local tradespeople.

So far I haven't found any news outlets picking this up. We'll see if there are any protests come Open time.