Exhibitor Services - Chicago Labor Regulations

All exhibit and display work in the Chicago area MUST be done by Union Labor.

There are six (6) major unions that have jurisdiction over trade shows. The following guidelines will help you in preparing your exhibit to conform to union jurisdictions and adherence to them, which can save you a substantial amount of money.

TEAMSTER UNION
They unload all trucks or vehicles in dock, deliver the material to your booth and remove and re-load material at the close of the show. Teamsters handle all freight inside the exhibit hall, drop tables and carpet in booths, and can drive forklifts. The only exceptions to this are Machinery, which is handled by the Riggers & Machinery Movers Union, and small items which can be easily carried by one man, in one trip, without the aid of flat trucks, dollies, etc. Exhibitor may carry in small packages including pop-up booths, provided they can be hand carried.

RIGGER & MACHINERY MOVERS
Riggers, as members of the union, are usually referred to handle all machines. This includes unloading from trucks, moving material to your booth and uncrating them if necessary. Riggers also remove skids and re-skid machines and spot the machine in your booth. The weight and size of your machine will dictate the number of riggers you will need. As an example, if you require a forklift, you must have a full crew of riggers, three (3) men. If the machine is small and can be handled by one or two men, you will not be required to use a full crew. Exhibitors may carry computers or appliances, provided it can be reasonably done by hand. Exhibitors may remove small computers and appliances from a crate or box, provided that it can be done without a forklift or any power equipment. Computer equipment and small appliances crew sizes for operations requiring a rigger will be determined by the size of the job. If only one man is needed to do the work, then only one rigger will be required.

CARPENTERS UNION
The Carpenters handle the erection, installation and dismantling of display and exhibit booths. This includes 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 re-crate machines for outbound loading. Exhibitors may set-up or dismantle displays in booths of 10’x10’ or less. A pop-up display shall be defined as a display system of 10’ or less, that can be set up by one person in ½ hour or less, without the use of tools. Pop-up displays larger than 10’, booth installation requiring use of tools, use of a ladder, or booths bigger than 10’x10’ require union labor.

DECORATORS UNION
Decorators handle installation of signs, drape background, table skirting, and other items of decorative nature that must be done after a display background is erected, such as photos and framed or unframed pictures. Exhibitors may hang their own corporate logos, small pictures and graphics when such items are designed to be attached by pre-set Velcro strips, permanently mounted hooks or snaps. Exhibitors may set-up and take down 10’x10’ displays (“pop-ups”) if one person can accomplish the task in ½ hour or less without the use of tools. If booth space is larger than 10’x10’ or require tools installation, then union labor is required. Exhibitors may skirt table provided they do it with their own custom skirts without the use of staples, snaps or Velcro. Exhibitors may blow up balloons provided they are not used in display.

ELECTRICAL UNION
Electricians handle all electrical work, which includes supplying the power lines to your booth, connecting equipment to the proper outlets, and installing any signs or headers that are lighted, unless they are permanently attached to the exhibit backwall.

GENERAL PROVISIONS
In each case where these rules indicate that an “exhibitor may” do something, this is interpreted to mean a full–time employee of the exhibiting company (full-time throughout the year, verifiable documentation must be provided upon request).

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITHOUT UNIONS IN THE CHICAGO AREA ARE:
Contrary to popular belief, exhibitors are allowed to do a few jobs in the comfort and privacy of their own booth. Hopefully this guideline will help. Exhibitors are allowed to unpack and repack their own product. This does not mean that because your product is a 10 ton assembly line, and is shipped in pieces, that you can assemble it; it means that if you are displaying some type of merchandise that comes in boxes, you can unpack and set out for display, providing no tools are required to open the boxes. Exhibitors are allowed to do the technical work on their machines. Example; fine line balancing, programming, additional electrical work, in most cases, and cleaning of the machines.