McCormick Place (CBS File Photo)
CHICAGO (AP) – Court filings submitted by customers of Chicago’s McCormick Place say removal of labor reforms put in place by the Illinois Legislature could prove devastating for the convention center.
The statements, filed Thursday, asks U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Guzman to postpone implementation of a ruling throwing out some labor changes. The agency running McCormick Place is appealing Guzman’s ruling.
Among those saying they may take their business to other cities are the International Housewares Association and the American College of Surgeons.
One rule tossed by the judge gave exhibitors the right to do much of their own work setting up and dismantling convention booths rather than using union workers.
The head of McCormick Place, Jim Reilly, says the new rules restored the center as “an industry powerhouse.”
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13 Comments
These is a case where the labor unions have to go……we cannot afford to lose this revenue….you people are really stupid.
April 30, 2011 at 11:02 am
UNIONS R A RIP OFF, THEY WANT TO CHARGE SO MUCH MONEY,THAT “THEY” THINK WE R STUP!D TO PAY THEM, NO THANKS, BEFORE UNIONS CHARGES WERE REASONABLE, NOW THEY JUST WANT TO GET RICH QUICK!!!! NO THANKS!!!! WE’LL DO IT OURSELVES……
April 30, 2011 at 11:30 am
Why make reforms, then void them? This chit is insane!
They made the reforms to get back the lost customers.
Then they void the new reforms. Bait and switch at it’s fiinest!
April 30, 2011 at 11:43 am
U MUST NOT be in a Union!!!
April 30, 2011 at 11:45 am
let it close already
April 30, 2011 at 11:52 am
if u sign a contract, then break that contract, u are in violation of the law.
let me make it simple for all u idiots; if u buy a car and pay cash for it based on the warranty that is guaranteed, and the manufacturer voided the warranty the next day, how would u feel about that??
April 30, 2011 at 12:03 pm
I am currently and have been a Teamster for over 25 years. With that said, the sense of entitlement the Union Locals portray to their members is leading to the demise of organized labor in Illinois. Look at how the UAW almost single handedly brought down the US auto industry. Ask people who are not union members their opinion of whats going on with the various state employees an you might be surprised how many perceive the members as spoiled and over payed. Brothers and Sister members,hold your union officials accountable and you WILL be pleasantly surprised how responsive they are to your needs and requests. Myself and others in my local do and our employeers along with the community hold us in high regard. The Union WORKS for YOU the MEMBERS>
April 30, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Unfortunately the unions and politicians are like addicts, always wanting more and more. I think this country has to crash and burn and hit rock bottom in order for us to rebound and be a great nation again. Just like an addict has to hit rock bottom before they can recover.
Unfortunately many addicts never recover or relaspse so we as a nation are at great risk and may very well be on the road to being second or third in the worlds standing. What will the union slogan be then?
April 30, 2011 at 3:54 pm
This is the seventh time I have commented on this page. Please -the unions work for contractors mostly FREEMAN and GES, they are the oil companies of the trade show industry. They make the prices and charges to the exhibitors. If a union Teamster gets 30.00 per hour, look at the bill the exhibitor receives, it will be at lease 90.00 per hour. Same for carpenders, electrictions, decorators etc. all equipment charges, forklifts, furniture, carpeting etc.All go to the contractors. If you rent a table for your booth at a cost around 1 to 4 hundred dollars, depending on how many days you need it. All that including delivery goes to the contractors.People riding around on golf carts telling you that you need a carpender or electriction are from the contractors not the unions.The contractors are so powerful, no one addresses the fact they are overcharging. Consessions have been made several times in the past but cost were never lowered to the exhibitors.Freeman and GES run conventions in Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Atlanta and several other towns. Again, all union employees work for the contractors who in turn charge the exhibitors two to three times the amount the union worker makes per hout, just check what a carpenter is paid hourly without benifits then look at the invoice the exhibitor receives ,big difference. All the trade show management should demand to see the records af what the labor is actually paid and the amount they are charged. Do it soon. You will be amazed
April 30, 2011 at 9:05 pm
James, All true but it is the UNIONS that are fighting FOR the outrageous work rules that FORCE exhibitors to use UNION tradesmen to do work they can and prefer to do themselves. It is also the UNION work rules that determine crew size and when and how much overtime is charged. So yes the contractors are definately gouging when they bill but the UNIONS are rigging the system to protect their little feifdom and keep the connected tradesmen on the payroll at the expense of the trade show exhibitors. I say get rid of the contractors and the unions and the costs will plunge.
May 2, 2011 at 10:17 am
maybe if they had to use the unions, the unions could do these tasks for a comparable price of what they would pay other people to.
May 2, 2011 at 6:48 pm
how dare WE! How dare we charge exhibidarz!! Put that MILK ON THE TABLE!!! NOW!!!
May 2, 2011 at 6:50 pm
che CHUNG CHOW CHI WAH CO WAAH MAA!!
May 2, 2011 at 6:52 pm