Work Rules Help Chicago Auto Show Continue Growth
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| Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel |
Organizers of the Chicago Auto Show are applauding the recent settlement at McCormick Place that secures lower prices for its exhibitors and foresees more growth for the city's biggest public show. More flexible work rules, expanded straight-time windows and lower prices for labor, food concessions and even parking will lead to bigger and better displays from auto manufacturers and a better experience for attendees, according to the show producer.
"The reforms announced will be extremely beneficial to our exhibitors," said Dave Sloan, general manager of the auto show and president of the Chicago Auto Trade Association. "In the two auto shows where we've benefited from these rules--the 2011 show and the upcoming edition in February-our show has grown more than 100,000 square feet in exhibit space. Our manufacturers have been able to bring more of their world-class exhibits to the show for the same amount of money. And like any other business over the past four years watching every dime, that's significant. We hope that this stabilization of labor rates and other costs will help us grow even more in the future and serve as a model for others."
The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) which manages the nation's biggest convention center has reached agreements with labor unions that solidify the reforms that were implemented in a May 2010 legislative package. Those work rule changes align the center's operations with its major competitors in the convention and trade show industries, and make McCormick Place the most customer-friendly convention and tradeshow destination in the country.
"With the electrical rates reduced by approximately 17 percent, our exhibitors really win," continued Sloan. "Remember, we hang almost six miles of truss lighting in the building to make our show sparkle like no other."
Among the benefits of the rules, exhibitors will find:
- Key Expanded Straight-time (Monday - Friday) is restored and additionally provisions roll back double-time pay for certain holidays, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Day and President's Day which can occur in the window of when the auto show is produced; and a more flexible schedule on Saturdays which reduces double-time.
- Electrical Provider flexibility where now show organizers will have the flexibility to select an electrical provider of their choice (from an approved vendor list), thereby enabling cost-savings through competitive pricing.
- Crew Size Reductions will immediately allow work at McCormick Place to be done by two-person crews rather than the three-person crews required prior to the reforms.
- Reduced parking rates in surface parking lots, as well as free Wi-Fi access throughout the facility.
- The Exhibitors' Bill of Rights that allows show managers and exhibitors to perform their own work in any size booth, using their own ladders or hand tools, cordless tools, power tools and other tools designated by the Authority.
The settlement with the unions was achieved through the intervention of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn--both of whom recognize the importance of the convention and trade show industry to Chicago's and Illinois' economy.
"For more than a century, the auto show has been a cornerstone of our convention and exhibition industry," said Governor Quinn. "These reforms will help keep it the nation's biggest and most cost-effective show of its kind. With manufacturing plants in Bloomington, Belvidere and on the South side of the city, the auto industry is important to our state's economy. Hands down, McCormick Place is the country's best venue to stage an auto show."
"All parties now share the commitment to ensuring that Chicago's McCormick Place is the number one destination for trade shows and conventions," said David Causton, general manager of McCormick Place. "It is a new day in Chicago and we look forward to sharing that good news with all our present and prospective customers."
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