Ed Coryell, who heads the carpenters' union, called such a merger unprecedented. He says the union was willing to renegotiate its convention center contract, which is not set to expire for two more years. He suggests a new contract call for hospitality training with mandatory certification, and "zero tolerance for hostile behavior" among union members.

With the union's rejection of a unified labor pact, representatives of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association threatened to pull support for the planned $464-million expansion of the center. The support, members say, is contingent on the Port Authority board's success in implementing Econsult's recommendations.

Meanwhile, David Crawford, president of Econsult, disputed the carpenter union's contention that there is no precedent for a unified labor pact. Four unions were successfully merged into two at Chicago's McCormick Center, he says.