§ 5.4 — Exhibitor rights and work rule reforms

Illinois § 5.4

• Jurisdiction: Illinois
• Topic: GOVERNMENT
• Ch. 70: SPECIAL DISTRICTS
• Act 70 ILCS 210/: Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Act.

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(a) Legislative findings. (1) The Authority is a political subdivision of the State of Illinois subject to the plenary authority of the General Assembly and was created for the benefit of the general public to promote business, industry, commerce, and tourism within the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois. (2) The Authority owns and operates McCormick Place and Navy Pier, which have collectively 2.8 million square feet of exhibit hall space, 700,000 square feet of meeting room space. (3) The Authority is a vital economic engine that annually generates 65,000 jobs and $8 billion of economic activity for the State of Illinois through the trade shows, conventions, and other meetings held and attended at McCormick Place and Navy Pier. (4) The Authority supports the operation of McCormick Place and Navy Pier through not only fees on the rental of exhibit and meeting room space, electrical and utility service, food and beverage services, and parking, but also hotel room rates paid by persons staying at the Authority-owned hotel. (5) The Authority has a compelling and proprietary interest in the success, competitiveness, and continued viability of McCormick Place and Navy Pier as the owner and operator of the convention facilities and its obligation to ensure that these facilities produce sufficient operating revenues. (6) The Authority's convention facilities were constructed and renovated through the issuance of public bonds that are directly repaid by State hotel, auto rental, food and beverage, and airport and departure taxes paid principally by persons who attend, work at, exhibit, and provide goods and services to conventions, shows, exhibitions, and meetings at McCormick Place and Navy Pier. (7) State law also dedicates State occupation and use tax revenues to fulfill debt service obligations on these bonds should State hotel, auto rental, food and beverage, and airport and departure taxes fail to generate sufficient revenue. (8) Through fiscal year 2010, $55 million in State occupation and use taxes will have been allocated to make debt service payments on the Authority's bonds due to shortfalls in State hotel, auto rental, food and beverage, and airport and departure taxes. These shortfalls are expected to continue in future fiscal years and would require the annual dedication of approximately $40 million in State occupation and use taxes to fulfill debt service payments. (9) In 2009, managers of the International Plastics Showcase announced that 2009 was the last year they would host their exhibition at McCormick Place, as they had since 1971, because union labor work rules and electric and food service costs make it uneconomical for the show managers and exhibitors to use McCormick Place as a convention venue as compared to convention facilities in Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada. The exhibition used over 740,000 square feet of exhibit space, attracted over 43,000 attendees, generated $4.8 million of revenues to McCormick Place, and raised over $200,000 in taxes to pay debt service on convention facility bonds. (10) After the International Plastics Showcase exhibition announced its departure, other conventions and exhibitions managers and exhibitors also stated that they would not return to McCormick Place and Navy Pier for the same reasons cited by the International Plastics Showcase exhibition. In addition, still other managers and exhibitors stated that they would not select McCormick Place as a convention venue unless the union labor work rules and electrical and food service costs were made competitive with those in Orlando and Las Vegas. (11) The General Assembly created the Joint Committee on the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority to conduct hearings and obtain facts to determine how union labor work rules and electrical and food service costs make McCormick Place and Navy Pier uneconomical as a convention venue. (12) Witness testimony and fact-gathering revealed that while the skilled labor provided by trade unions at McCormick Place and Navy Pier is second to none and is actually "exported" to work on conventions and exhibitions held in Orlando and Las Vegas, restrictive work rules on the activities show exhibitors may perform present exhibitors and show managers with an uninviting atmosphere and result in significantly higher costs than competing convention facilities. (13) Witness testimony and fact-gathering also revealed that the mark-up on electrical and food service imposed by the Authority to generate operating revenue for McCormick Place and Navy Pier also substantially increased exhibitor and show organizer costs to the point of excess when compared to competing convention facilities. (14) Witness testimony and fact-gathering further revealed that the additional departure of conventions, exhibitions, and trade shows from Authority facilities threatens the continued economic viability of these facilities and the stability of sufficient tax revenues necessary to support debt service. (15) In order to safeguard the Authority's and State of Illinois' shared compelling and proprietary interests in McCormick Place and Navy Pier and in response to local economic needs, the provisions contained in this Section set forth mandated changes and reforms to restore and ensure that (i) the Authority's facilities remain economically competitive with other convention venues and (ii) conventions, exhibitions, trade shows, and other meetings are attracted to and retained at Authority facilities by producing an exhibitor-friendly environment and by reducing costs for exhibitors and show managers. (16) The provisions set forth in this Section are reasonable, necessary, and narrowly tailored to safeguard the Authority's and State of Illinois' shared and compelling proprietary interests and respond to local economic needs as compared to the available alternative set forth in House Bill 4900 of the 96th General Assembly and proposals submitted to the Joint Committee on the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. Action by the State offers the only comprehensive means to remedy the circumstances set forth in these findings, despite the concerted and laudable voluntary efforts of the Authority, labor unions, show contractors, show managers, and exhibitors. (b) Definitions. As used in this Section: "Booth" means the demarcated exhibit space of an exhibitor on Authority premises. "Contractor" or "show contractor" means any person who contracts with the Authority, an exhibitor, or with the manager of a show to provide any services related to drayage, rigging, carpentry, decorating, electrical, maintenance, mechanical, and food and beverage services or related trades and duties for shows on Authority premises. "Exhibitor" or "show exhibitor" means any person who contracts with the Authority or with a manager or contractor of a show held or to be held on Authority premises. "Exhibitor employee" means any person who has been employed by the exhibitor as a full-time employee for a minimum of 6 months before the show's opening date. "Hand tools" means cordless tools, power tools, and other tools as determined by the Authority. "Licensee" means any entity that uses the Authority's premises. "Manager" or "show manager" means any person that owns or manages a show held or to be held on Authority premises. "Personally owned vehicles" means the vehicles owned by show exhibitors or the show management, excluding commercially registered trucks, vans, and other vehicles as determined by the Authority. "Premises" means grounds, buildings, and facilities of the Authority. "Show" means a convention, exposition, trade show, event, or meeting held on Authority premises by a show manager or show contractor on behalf of a show manager. "2011 Settlement Agreement" means the agreement that the Authority made and entered into with the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, not including any revisions or amendments, and filed with the Illinois Secretary of State Index Department and designated as 97-GA-A01. "Union employees" means workers represented by a labor organization, as defined in the National Labor Relations Act, providing skilled labor services to exhibitors, a show manager, or a show contractor on Authority premises. (c) Exhibitor rights. In order to control costs, increase the competitiveness, and promote and provide for the economic stability of Authority premises, all Authority contracts with exhibitors, contractors, and managers shall include the following minimum terms and conditions: (1) Consistent with safety and the skills and training necessary to perform the task, as determined by the Authority, an exhibitor and exhibitor employees are permitted in a booth of any size with the use of the exhibitor's ladders and hand tools to: (i) set-up and dismantle exhibits displayed on Authority premises; (ii) assemble and disassemble materials, machinery, or equipment on Authority premises; and (iii) install all signs, graphics, props, balloons, other decorative items, and the exhibitor's own drapery, including the skirting of exhibitor tables, on the Authority's premises. (2) An exhibitor and exhibitor employees are permitted in a booth of any size to deliver, set-up, plug in, interconnect, and operate an exhibitor's electrical equipment, computers, audio-visual devices, and other equipment. (3) An exhibitor and exhibitor employees are permitted in a booth of any size to skid, position, and re-skid all exhibitor material, machinery, and equipment on Authority premises. (4) An exhibitor and exhibitor employees are prohibited at any time from using scooters, forklifts, pallet jacks, condors, scissors lifts, motorized dollies, or similar motorized or hydraulic equipment on Authority premises. (5) The Authority shall designate areas, in its discretion, where exhibitors may unload and load exhibitor materials from privately owned vehicles at Authority premises with the use of non-motorized hand trucks and dollies. (6) On Monday through Friday for any consecutive 8-hour period during the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., union employees on Authority premises shall be paid straight-time hourly wages plus fringe benefits. Union employees shall be paid straight-time and a half hourly wages plus fringe benefits for labor services provided after any consecutive 8-hour period; provided, however, that between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. union employees shall be paid double straight-time wages plus fringe benefits for labor services. (7) On Monday through Friday for any consecutive 8-hour period during the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m., a show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor services provided by union employees on Authority premises based on straight-time hourly wages plus fringe benefits along with a reasonable mark-up. After any consecutive 8-hour period, a show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor services provided by union employees based on straight-time and a half hourly wages plus fringe benefits along with a reasonable mark-up; provided, however, that between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m. a show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor services provided by union employees based on double straight-time wages plus fringe benefits along with a reasonable mark-up. (8) (Blank). (9) (Blank). (10) (Blank). (11) (Blank). (12) The Authority has the power to determine, after consultation with the Advisory Council, the work jurisdiction and scope of work of union employees on Authority premises during the move-in, move-out, and run of a show, provided that any affected labor organization may contest the Authority's determination through a binding decision of an independent, third-party arbitrator. When making the determination, the Authority or arbitrator, as the case may be, shall consider the training and skills required to perform the task, past practices on Authority premises, safety, and the need for efficiency and exhibitor satisfaction. These factors shall be considered in their totality and not in isolation. The Authority's determination must be made in writing, set forth an explanation and statement of the reason or reasons supporting the determination, and be provided to each affected labor organization. The changes in this item (12) by this amendatory Act of the 97th General Assembly are declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment. Nothing in this item permits the Authority to eliminate any labor organization representing union employees that provide labor services on the move-in, move-out, and run of the show as of the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly. (13) (Blank). (14) An exhibitor or show manager may request by name specific union employees to provide labor services on Authority premises consistent with all State and federal laws. Union employees requested by an exhibitor shall take priority over union employees requested by a show manager. (15) A show manager or show contractor on behalf of a show manager may retain an electrical contractor approved by the Authority or Authority-provisioned electrical services to provide electrical services on the premises. If a show manager or show contractor on behalf of a show manager retains Authority-provisioned electrical services, then the Authority shall offer these services at a rate not to exceed the cost of providing those services. (16) Crew sizes for any task or operation shall not exceed 2 persons unless, after consultation with the Advisory Council, the Authority determines otherwise based on the task, skills, and training required to perform the task and on safety. (17) An exhibitor may bring food and beverages on the premises of the Authority for personal consumption. (18) Show managers and contractors shall comply with any audit performed under subsection (e) of this Section. (19) A show manager or contractor shall charge an exhibitor only for labor services provided by union employees on Authority premises on a minimum half-hour basis. The Authority has the power to implement, enforce, and administer the exhibitor rights set forth in this subsection, including the promulgation of rules. The Authority also has the power to determine violations of this subsection and implement appropriate remedies, including, but not limited to, barring violators from Authority premises. The provisions set forth in this Section are binding and equally applicable to any show conducted at Navy Pier, and this statement of the law is declarative of existing law and shall not be construed as a new enactment. The Authority may waive the applicability of only item (6) of this subsection (c) to the extent necessary and required to comply with paragraph 1 of Section F of the 2011 Settlement Agreement, as set forth on Page 12 of that Agreement. (d) Advisory Council. (1) An Advisory Council is hereby established to ensure an active and productive dialogue between all affected stakeholders to ensure exhibitor satisfaction for conventions, exhibitions, trade shows, and meetings held on Authority premises. (2) The composition of the Council shall be determined by the Authority consistent with its existing practice for labor-management relations. (3) The Council shall hold meetings no less than once every 90 days. (e) Audit of exhibitor rights. The Authority shall retain the services of a person to complete, at least once per calendar year, a financial statement audit and compliance attestation engagement that may consist of an examination or an agreed-upon procedures engagement that, in the opinion of the licensed public accounting firm selected by the Authority in accordance with the provisions of this Act and with the concurrence of the Authority, is better suited to determine and verify compliance with the exhibitor rights set forth in this Section, and that cost reductions or other efficiencies resulting from the exhibitor rights have been fairly passed along to exhibitors. In the event an agreed-upon procedures engagement is performed, the Authority shall first consult with the Advisory Committee and solicit its suggestions and advice with respect to the specific procedures to be agreed upon in the engagement. Thereafter, the public accounting firm and the Authority shall agree upon the specific procedures to be followed in the engagement. It is intended that the design of the engagement and the procedures to be followed shall allow for flexibility in targeting specific areas for examination and to revise the procedures where appropriate for achieving the purpose of the engagement. The financial statement audit shall be performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The compliance attestation engagement shall be (i) performed in accordance with attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and shall examine the compliance with the requirements set forth in this Section and (ii) conducted by a licensed public accounting firm, selected by the Authority from a list of firms prequalified to do business with the Illinois Auditor General. Upon request, a show contractor or manager shall provide the Authority or person retained to provide attestation services with any information and other documentation reasonably necessary to perform the obligations set forth in this subsection. Upon completion, the report shall be submitted to the Authority and made publicly available on the Authority's website. Within 30 days of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Advisory Committee following the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 98th General Assembly, the Authority, in conjunction with the Advisory Committee, shall adopt a uniform set of procedures to expeditiously investigate and address exhibitor complaints and concerns. The procedures shall require full disclosure and cooperation among the Authority, show managers, show contractors, exhibitor-appointed contractors, professional service providers, and labor unions. (f) Exhibitor service reforms. The Authority shall make every effort to substantially reduce exhibitor's costs for participating in shows. (1) Any contract to provide food or beverage services in the buildings and facilities of the Authority, except Navy Pier, shall be provided at a rate not to exceed the cost established in the contract. The Board shall periodically review all food and beverage contracts. (2) A department or unit of the Authority shall not serve as the exclusive provider of electrical services. (3) Exhibitors shall receive a detailed statement of all costs associated with utility services, including the cost of labor, equipment, and materials. (g) Severability. If any provision of this Section or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity of that provision or application does not affect other provisions or applications of this Section that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 97-629, eff. 11-30-11; 98-109, eff. 7-25-13 .)