IMTS exhibitors will have the right to use their own employees to assemble their own machines, thanks to a recent agreement on work rules at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The agreement, reached after months of negotiations, made permanent labor rule changes that were implemented at IMTS 2010 but questioned by a court decision approximately 6 months after that show.
In addition to eliminating the need for exhibitors to hire millwrights, carpenters and other labor for product work of any kind, the agreement calls for private operation of the building (now operated by SMG Management) and all food service (now provided by Savor). It also makes the following reforms permanent:
-Show managers and exhibitors can perform their own work in any size booth with their own tools.
-Key expanded straight time (Monday through Friday) has been restored, double-time pay for certain holidays (Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and Presidents Day) has been rolled back, and a more flexible Saturday schedule reduces double-time.
-Exhibitors can operate, load and unload their own vehicles at McCormick Place docks and designated loading areas.
-Some work can be performed by 2-person crews rather than the 3-person crews required prior to the reforms.
Additionally, plans for an expansion of Hyatt McCormick Place have moved forward since the Illinois legislature made changes in the funding mechanism for the venue. A second tower on the north side of the existing hotel will be under construction during IMTS 2012, although this should cause only minimal disruption, organizers say.
For more information, visit imts.com.
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