Hurtgen to Step Down as Federal Mediator

Top federal mediator Peter J. Hurtgen, who helped broker deals to end the 2002 West Coast port lockout and the California supermarket strike and lockout this year, will leave the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service at the end of this month to return to private law practice, his office said Monday.

Hurtgen’s chief of staff, Jack Toner, will serve as acting director until a replacement is confirmed by the Senate.

Hurtgen, who directed the federal agency for 2 1/2 years, also briefly mediated talks in the current dispute between nine luxury hotels in Los Angeles and their unionized workers.

Both sides said he hadn’t been involved for several months and did not inform them he was leaving.

“It’s disappointing,” said Maria Elena Durazo, president of Unite Here Local 11, which represents the hotel workers. “There’s a pretty steep learning curve in our issues.”

Mediation service spokesman John Arnold said local mediators would be available.

“It’s up to the parties how much they want us involved,” Arnold said.

Negotiations between the hotels and the union resumed Monday, without federal help.

Hurtgen will rejoin corporate law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, working out of offices in California, Arnold said.

Hurtgen was out of the country Monday and unavailable for comment.