BRAINSTORMS
McCormick
Place Update
SL
A 17-month dispute over labor rules at
McCormick Place is finally over thanks
to a deal that was brokered in October
by Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Rahm
Emanuel.
“McCormick Place is a cornerstone of
Illinois’ economy, and we weren’t going
to stop working with our labor partners
until we delivered the reforms needed to
bring more shows and jobs to our state,”
Quinn said in a statement.
Illinois lawmakers passed landmark
convention reform legislation in May
2010 after several trade associations
moved their conventions from Chicago
to competing destinations, citing the
high cost of meeting in the Windy City.
In response, two unions — Teamsters
Local 727, whose members unload and
move booth materials on the trade show
floor, and the Chicago Regional Council
of Carpenters, whose members assemble
exhibits — filed a lawsuit alleging that
the state had overstepped its authority
by violating the National Labor Relations
Act, which prohibits state legislatures
from enacting changes to collective bargaining agreements between unions and
private companies.
In three separate rulings that followed
in March, June and July, federal judges
sided with the unions. That’s when Quinn
and Emanuel stepped in.
“I am grateful that labor is our partner
in implementing these reforms that will
keep thousands of Chicagoans working,
save exhibitors money and ensure our
city remains a competitive destination
and leader in the convention and trade
show industry,” Emanuel said.
Settlements reached with the Team-
sters and Carpenters ended their lawsuit
and keep the majority of convention
reforms in place, including the following
key provisions:
• An “Exhibitors’ Bill of Rights” allows
show managers and exhibitors to per-
form their own work in any size booth,
using their own ladders or hand tools,
cordless tools and power tools.
Also preserved are new rules allowing show organizers to choose electrical
service providers from a list of approved
vendors — which will lead to cost savings through competitive pricing — as
well as reduced parking rates, lower food
and beverage pricing, enhanced menu
options and free Wi-Fi access.
“Chicago is now the most customer-friendly convention and trade show destination in the country, without a doubt,”
said Chicago Convention & Tourism
Bureau President and CEO Don Welsh.
“The restoration of exhibitor rights at
McCormick Place, without any future
threat, ensures that our customers will
not only realize significant savings, but
prosper as a result of exhibitors returning
to their shows in full force.”
$leeping on
the Job
Maybe it’s worry. Maybe it’s the streetlight outside their bedroom window. Or
maybe it’s an irrational fear of vampires.
Whatever it is that keeps your employees up at night, one thing’s certain: It’s
costing your organization lots of money,
according to the American Academy of
Sleep Medicine, which recently published
the results of a Harvard Medical School
study showing that insomnia is costing
the average U.S. worker 11. 3 days, or
7%
%
71%YES 29% NO
