To assist you in planning your participation in your Chicago area show, we are certain you will appreciate knowing in advance that union labor will be required for certain aspects of your exhibit handling.

There are six major unions which have jurisdiction over trade shows. The following guidelines will help you in preparing your exhibit to conform to union jurisdiction. Adherence to these guidelines can save you a substantial amount of money.

Teamsters
Responsible for handling all material in and out of the hall. Exhibitors are permitted to carry small packages into the hall without the use of wheeled carts and /or dollies.

Riggers
Responsible for handling machinery in and out of the hall. Riggers also handle the uncrating, unskidding, positioning and leveling of all machinery and reskidding of all machinery.

Exhibitor Rights
Q: What work can I do in my own booth?
A: Exhibitors may perform the following functions as long as they are full-time employees of the exhibiting company.

• Assembling and disassembling machinery.
• Skidding, positioning and reskidding all Exhibitor machinery using non-motorized hand trucks and dollies.

Q: What type of equipment is not permitted?
A: Exhibitors and their employees are not allowed to operate or stand on forklifts, pallet jacks, scaffolding, motorized dollies or similar motorized or hydraulic equipment. This also applies to GES supplied equipment to include scissor lifts, platforms and safety cages.

Q: What is a full-time employee?
A: An exhibitor employee is identified as someone who has been employed by the exhibitor on a full time basis for a minimum of 6 months before the show’s opening date.

Carpenters and Decorators are now organized into a single unified work force who will work across traditional union jurisdictional lines. As a result, exhibitors will only need to place one request for labor to set up a booth.

Carpenters
Responsible for uncrating of exhibits and display materials, installation and dismantle of exhibits including cabinets, fixtures, shelving units, furniture, etc. laying of floor tile, carpet, recrating of exhibits and closing of machinery crates. Installation and dismantling of scaffolding, bleachers and binding of chairs.

Decorators
Responsible for hanging all non-electrical signs, drape and cloth installation and tacked fabric panels. Decorators are also responsible for Velcro signs used in a booth that requires tools or more than one person for installation.

Electricians
Responsible for assembly, installation and dismantle of anything that uses electricity as a source of power. This includes electrical wiring, hook-ups, interconnections, etc.

Plumbers
Responsible for all plumbing work such as compressed air, water, drain or natural gas.

Helpful Hints
Exhibitors may perform the following functions as long as they are a full-time employee of the exhibiting company:

• Hand carry small items and pop-up displays. No hand trucks or carts are permitted.
• Install and dismantle displays within a 300 sq. ft. or less booth space without the use of power tools.
• Install graphics and small signs, using any other type of fastener as long as no tools or ladders are required and the total time to hang the sign does not exceed 1/2 hour.
• Remove small computers and appliance from crates or boxes provided work is done without a forklift or any power equipment.
• Make technical, electrical connections and interwire equipment for computers providing the cables do not exceed 10' in length.
• Perform simple electrical requirements, such as installing light bulbs.

If you encounter any difficulty with any laborer or if you are not satisfied with the work performed, please bring this to the attention of Global Experience Specialists, Inc. (GES). Please refrain from voicing complaints directly to labor.

Our work rules prohibit the SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE of tips in cash, product or gifts in kind by any employee (union or non-union). Our employees are paid appropriate wages denoting professional status, therefore tipping of any kind is not allowed.

Customer acknowledges that the show site and surrounding areas are active work zones. Customer, its agents, employees and representatives are present at their own risk.

GES requires the highest standards of integrity from all employees. Please call our confidential Always Honest hotline at 866.225.8230 to report fraudulent or unethical behavior.