Trade Show Unions—Our Partners By T.J. McGarvey, Senior Director - Labor Relations, GES Exposition Services The Trade Show Industry is labor and union intensive. The trade show unions we deal with can offer a skilled, efficient and a readily available work force. Professional and efficient labor relations are critical to the success of a show, the image of a city and the satisfaction of our clients. The following recommendations are provided as a practical approach to labor and management relations. Manage to the Contract. If the contract provides a benefit or rule—abide by it. Do not practice labor relations hoping not to get caught. There is no long-term benefit. If a rule or benefit is not provided under the collective bargaining agreement, do not get into the trap of saying, “Yeah, go ahead.” Example: Contract provides for downsizing (layoffs) by contractors’ needs and efficiencies. The union steward insists layoffs be determined by seniority... Do not say, “Yeah, go ahead.” Manage to the terms in the contract. Get Familiar with Jurisdictions. Educate yourself prior to the first day of move-in. What is common practice in one city/market may not be in another. Pay particular attention to staffing levels, such as minimum calls required for the job function to be performed; overtime provisions; and union jurisdictions (i.e. teamsters, carpenters, electricians, etc.). Right to Work Laws are the most often misunderstood labor laws in our industry. Just because a specific state has a right to work law does not mean you can ignore the collective bargaining agreement. It does mean that a worker may not be forced to pay union dues. However, a contractor/client/exhibitor must continue to honor a valid collective bargaining agreement. Management Right to Discipline. Unions were created to help working men and women. Every time you do or do not discipline an employee for just cause, you send a message to the rest of the work force. Make sure you send the right message. Examples of right to discipline: time abuse, poor productivity, insubordination, substance abuse, etc. Work Now, Grieve Later. Often we feel forced to comply with a position taken by the union, although we are certain their position is not supported by the contract. This is how bad “past practices” begin. If an on-site settlement cannot be reached then work now, grieve later. Abraham Lincoln wrote, “Capital is a product of the efforts of labor.” We need skilled and efficient labor to produce our shows. Labor needs skilled and efficient management to sell, plan, direct, coordinate and supervise shows.