In short: the state passed legislation meant to curtail the costs of holding exhibitions at McCormick Place. Some of the changes were pretty small, but convenient for exhibitors, like allowing them to bring their own food and beverages instead of having to buy them through McPier. But some of the rules impact labor: "The rights also include expanded hours for straight time, allowing exhibitors to select specific workers, reducing worker crew sizes and reducing the number of stewards working the floor."
Sound simple? It's not. As Crain's Greg Hinz put it in 2009:
Right now, McPier is a hydra-headed monster jointly run by the mayor and the governor. Since neither has ultimate responsibility, each has grabbed the goodies rather than taking care of business, with the mayoral-controlled McPier board left free to squabble with the gubernatorial- selected McPier CEO.
It's complicated: it's a government entity, in an awkward place between the city and state, which is complicated enough, but the actual business of putting on conventions is done by private businesses. The exhibitors, i.e. the people actually showing stuff, pay the trade association, which puts people in front of the exhibitors. The trade association pays McPier for the floor space, and hires a contractor, which is paid by the association but recoups the cost from the exhibitors. Full article.
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