McCormick Pl. gets new rules that work

Great news for exhibitors at McCormick Place! From now on, ifthey need only one man for a job, the union will require that onlyone man be sent.

And if you think that's really something, then consider anotherchange: If an exhibitor needs to replace a light bulb, he'll beallowed to screw it in himself! (Unless of course, a ladder or toolsare needed, in which case a union member will be required).

That such changes are being hailed as a major, dramatic advancefor McCormick Place merely demonstrates how badly the changes wereneeded. The first work-rule changes since McCormick Place opened inthe 1960s, they indeed will make the giant lakefront exhibition hallmore competitive with other cities.

For years, exhibitors have chided Chicago for the old rules;they were so costly and such a pain in the neck that McCormick Placewas in danger of losing business to more enlightened exhibitioncenters in other cities.

You can get an idea of just how costly and annoying the ruleswere by looking at what the new rules will allow:

Besides being permitted to screw in some of their own lightbulbs, exhibitors also will no longer have to call in one ofMcCormick Place's union electricians to connect their own sound andvideo equipment (as long as it doesn't require tools or a ladder).Among other things, exhibitors also will be allowed to connect theirown computer components, such as keyboards and printers (as long asthe interfacing cables do not exceed 10 feet in length); do their ownvideo taping within the booth; put up their own small booths and blowup their own balloons (provided they are not used in the display).

And this: "On computer equipment and small appliances, crewsizes for operations requiring a rigger will be determined by thesize of the job. If only one man is needed to do the work, then onlyone rigger will be required."

Hosanna.

We don't mean to belittle this surprising and most welcomeagreement. For years, many people in town and out have been beggingfor reform of the work rules. Now that the changes are here, it'sjust - well, hard to believe. Congratulations to the unions thatagreed to them and to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority,which negotiated the deal.

That any change at all was negotiated is testimony to how realexhibitors' threats to go elsewhere had become. We only hope thatthe agreement signals a new understanding by one and all that in thisbusiness we sink or swim together.