Editorial: Diversity

Mayor Nutter called an agreement aimed at increasing diversity in Philadelphia's building trades unions "historic."

City Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. called the pact that calls for a commission to study the issue "ridiculous."

The truth is somewhere in the middle. The agreement represents progress, but falls short of what is needed to bring rapid change.

City Council found its backbone in standing up to the unions before signing off on plans to expand the Convention Center. The unions had been accustomed to acting as though they owned City Hall.

Granted, Council didn't get everything it wanted. But it did get

most

of the unions to disclose membership figures that showed - no surprise - about 80 percent of union members are white, and 70 percent live outside the city.

The unions have resisted disclosing these numbers for years. It's clear why: A half-dozen of the unions are almost all white.

Just being able to document the lack of diversity is a big first step, akin to getting an alcoholic to admit he has a problem.

However, two key unions refused to disclose their numbers: the carpenters and the electricians. Both need to come clean.

In fact, if unofficial information is correct, carpenters union leader Ed Coryell Sr. should be touting his diversity figures, which are said to be much higher than the 20 percent average. If he's got a good program to recruit minority workers, he should share it.

Then there's electricians boss John Dougherty, who says he's not going to get "bullied." Yo, Johnny Doc, now you know how others feel when dealing with you.

The unions have pledged to boost minority membership going forward. That pledge lacks real teeth, however, so it's up to Nutter and Council to hang tough.

It is hoped that Council has learned it's OK to challenge the unions. Council must consistently use its leverage to negotiate labor deals that benefit Philadelphians of every color and gender - not just the rowdy tradesmen who pack Council chambers for key votes.

After all, as the unions have admitted, most of their members no longer live in the city and can't vote in Philadelphia. And new campaign finance rules limit the unions' clout.

All the more reason to insist the unions open their doors to all.