There are seven major unions that have jurisdiction over
trade shows in the Chicagoland area. the following guidelines will
help you in preparing your exhibit to conform to union jurisdiction
and adherence to them can save you a
substantial amount of
money.
TEAMSTERS UNION
Teamsters handle all freight inside the exhibit hall. They unload
all trucks or vehicles, deliver the materials to your booth, and
remove and reload materials at the close of the show.
MACHINERY MOVERS & RIGGERS UNION
Riggers handle all machinery. This includes the unloading of
machines from the trucks, moving the materials to your booth, and a
one-time spotting of display ready equipment, which the exhibitor
must supervise at the time of unloading. Riggers also remove skids
and reskid machines, uncrate machines, and respot machines in the
booth if needed. This service must be ordered as needed, at
exhibitor's expense.
CARPENTERS UNION
Carpenters handle the erection and dismantling of display and
exhibit booths. This includes all display work with the exception of
machinery, signs or lighted headers, unless the sign or header is a
permanently attached part of the display. carpenters also recrate
machines for outbound loading. Millwrights, a division of the
carpenters union, handle the assembly and the leveling of machinery,
as well as the attachment of all guards and shields.
DECORATORS UNION
Decorators handle the installation of signs, drape background, table
skirting, and all other items of decorative nature that must be done
after a display background is erected.
ELECTRICAL UNION
Electricians
handle all electrical work, which includes supplying power lines to
your booth, connecting equipment to the proper outlets, installing
any signs or headers that are lighted, unless they are permanently
attached to the exhibit backwall, and the running of cable within
the exhibitors booth.
PLUMBERS UNION
Plumbers handle all plumbing work such as compresses air,
water/drain, or natural gas.
THEATRICAL STAGEHANDS UNION
Stagehands assemble portable lighting and sound systems as as
picture screens 10' x 14' in size and larger. They also set stages,
operate lighting and sound consoles, and hang lighting trusts and
speaker systems.
WHAT AN EXHIBITOR CAN DO WITHOUT
UNIONS IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA
Recent work - rules modifications now enable exhibitors to perform
several set-up tasks which in the past were under jurisdiction. Each
of these are itemized below, and must be completed by a full time
employee of the exhibiting company.
-
Exhibitors may set up and dismantle
their own booth displays provided their exhibit space is 300
square feet or less (e.g. 10' x 30') in size and does not
require power tools.
-
Exhibitors may affix clamp-on lights
to the top of their booth displays provided no power tools,
ladders, chairs or furniture are required to do so. This applies
to booths up to 300 square feet in size only.
-
Exhibitors may calibrate and do
repair work on internal circuit boards, do interconnecting of
peripheral equipment, provided cable does not exceed 20' in
length, and do the programming of machinery.
-
Exhibitors may do the connection of
lighting, video equipment and light bulbs to an electrical
outlet when the outlet has been ordered by the exhibitor.
-
Exhibitors may hang up to ten small
pictures, graphic, logos, etc. onto a backwall display when such
items are designed to be affixed by pre-set Velcro strips,
permanently mounted hooks, or snaps.
-
Exhibitors may skirt tables provided
they do so with their own custom fit skirts, without the use of
staples, velcro or snaps.
-
Exhibitors may hand carry small
packages, pop-up displays and desktop computer equipment
provided it can be done without the use of a fork-lift, flatcart
or dollie, only from a designated parking area.
-
Exhibitors may inflate balloons
provided they are intended as a show give-away item and not used
for display purposes.
-
Video taping may be done by
exhibitors within the confines of their own booth using
equipment owned or rented by the exhibiting company, provided
such taping does not conflict with show management regulations,
and does not require power tools or ladders.
-
Exhibitors may un-pack, re-pack and
set out their own product line within the booth for display
purposes, provided the product is not machinery.
-
Exhibitors having booths of 300
square feet or less may use hand tools such as screwdrivers,
pliers, scissors, or allen-type wrenches to perform work within
their booths.
