Effective immediately, exhibitors and their full-time employees may plug 110v/120v equipment into the outlets provided. This includes VCRs TVs, computers, and other appliances.

May exhibitors connect computers within their booths? Yes, Exhibitors and their full-time employees may now set up computers and peripherals, e.g., monitor, mouse, keyboard.

May exhibitors operate video equipment? Yes. Exhibitors and their full-time employees may operate a single video camera, VCR, and switching equipment. This is true whether the equipment is battery powered or is plugged into an electrical outlet.

May an exhibitor make non-power wiring terminations, such as control or signal wiring? Yes. While electricians must still perform all power terminations and on-site cable installation, exhibitors and their full-time employees may terminate the interconnecting cables in control panels between their equipment.

2. More Affordable Overtime

The regular workday Monday through Friday shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and paid at straight time pay. All work performed between 4:30 p.m. and 8:30p.m. shall be paid at time-and-one-half pay, except that Riggers, Decorators, and Carpenters who have not worked for at least eight (8) hours at a straight time on that day shall be entitled to double time after 6:30p.m.

The first four (4) hours of teardown work on Monday through Friday that commences after 4:30 p.m. shall be paid at time-and-one half pay. The first two (2) hours of teardown work on Saturday shall be paid at time-and-one-half pay.

3. Relaxed Work Rules

Effective immediately, an exhibitor or a full-time employee of the exhibitor is permitted to do much more of their own set-up work. In a booth of 300 square feet or less (approximately 70% of all booths), an exhibitor may do his/her own assembly and decorating work, if he/she so chooses. The only restriction is that carpenters or decorators must perform work involving the use of power tools or ladders. For aerial sign hanging jobs, the new agreement reduces crew size from 4 workers to just 3, when safety is not an issue. An exhibitor's full-time employee may work along with labor by assisting with the installation and dismantling of a booth of 300 square feet or less.

4. United Labor Force

Effective May 1999, the carpenters and decorators will be organized into a single Unified Labor Force. This means that they will work across traditional union jurisdiction lines. This also means that only one request will be needed to obtain the labor required to set up your booth. This translates into faster service and greater efficiency.

5. More Electrical Savings

Exhibitors who don't require extensive electrical services for their booths now have a lower cost option available. McCormick Place is offering a 500-watt service for just $75 if ordered 30 days before an event ($113 if ordered within 30 days). That's 56% less than the 1500-watt service.

6. Improved Parking Facilities

For those who drive to McCormick place, you'll soon see construction activity for a 3,000-car parking garage directly across the street from the new South Building. Connected to the convention center by climate-controlled skybridges, this multi-million dollar garage will be in service by 2001.

7. More Efficient Bus Service

For those who use hotel shuttle buses to get to McCormick Place, work is proceeding on a two-lane busway for exclusive use by charter buses. Paralleling the Metra rail tracks between Randolph Street and McCormick Place, the new roadway will require no stops enroute and will greatly reduce travel time for exhibitors and convention attendees. This will also be in service in 2001.