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This Just In

Rosemont Adopts McCormick Place Work Rules

HIL ANDERSON, SENIOR EDITOR

Rosemont, IL – The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL is adopting the so-called “McPier Legislation” work rules that went into effect at McCormick Place in neighboring Chicago.

The center and Rosemont Exposition Services informed customers this month that show services would be provided at the same reduced hourly labor schedule as McCormick Place effective immediately.

Christopher Stephens, executive director of the suburban convention center, said current union contracts would remain intact. The center would “continue to work with the trade unions towards the permanent adoption of these changes.”

“Rosemont has a long history of receiving and passing along all savings associated with the rule changes made in Chicago,” Stephens said.

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center has 840,000 net square feet of exhibit space and is tied for 13th position on the Trade Show Executive World’s Top Convention Centers list with the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

The changes implemented in Rosemont went into effect this Summer at McCormick Place and have been widely popular among trade show organizers and exhibitors. The rules, which were authored by the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority, are aimed primarily at reducing overtime for union workers and allowing exhibitors to do more of their own booth assembly.

The unions with jurisdiction over McCormick Place have by and large gone along with the changes. The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters has filed a federal lawsuit to block the changes, and has organized a weekend informational picket line outside the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS).

The picketing did not cause any significant disruptions at the IMTS, which hosted 82,411 attendees and topped 1.13 million net square feet of exhibit space.

Reach Christopher Stephens at (847) 692-2220 or cstephens@rosemont.com

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