Aramark won't cater Green Building Council's event

In a bid to soothe labor tensions, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority and its sole concessions provider, Aramark Corp., have granted the US Green Building Council's request for a different caterer at the council's Nov. 19-21 conference at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

The agreement should clear the way for the keynote speaker, Archbishop Desmond Tutu (left), to attend the annual conference without Unite Here's Local 26 picketing. About 30,000 people are expected to attend the event.

The union, which represents food and beverage workers, has for the past year been entrenched in bitter contract negotiations with Aramark.

Last month, the Green Building Council said it was contacted by the union and was talking to the MCCA, Aramark, and the union to seek a compromise.
(By Nicole C. Wong, Globe staff)