How You Hire a Local Crew Makes a Difference Hiring a local crew is a substantial investment that will either contribute to or subtract from your bottom line and the success of your show. Costs for skilled local labor represent a growing percentage of every staging budget, especially when you re in a city like Chicago where you ll be working with five or more unions to get the job done. Understanding union contracts and how they apply to each venue and type of work is essential to your success. Fortunately, you don t have to become a labor expert to make your show a success in Chicago you just need Complete Crewing. We take the guesswork out of budgeting and hiring the right labor for your event, reduce your financial and legal risk, and help you win new business and service it with confidence. We offer intelligent, accurate, complete staffing solutions for unique production needs based on comprehensive experience. In other words, Complete Crewing. Complete Crewing is your single source for union and freelance stage personnel for any size event, freeing your time and resources so you can focus on what you do best. We develop detailed, accurate crew budgets and schedules that are free of union jurisdictional conflicts and hidden charges. And only Complete Crewing offers proactive and unbiased pre-show consultation and labor budgeting for proposals and pre-show at no cost to help you win new business and serve it confidently and profitably. Expert Advice We re not union members. We don t own or rent equipment. We are labor experts focused solely on representing producers, stagers and their interests while maintaining strong and positive relationships with union business agents and their members we employ. Our team has an extensive background in technical direction, event production, and staging company management decades of in-the-trenches local, national and international experience in entertainment, business meetings, and broadcast. We re the experts on Chicago labor contracts, venues and their varied labor jurisdictions, and one of the largest employers of stagecraft labor in Chicago. All this gives us an enviable position in the market and we leverage that every day for the benefit of our clients. Custom Solutions Complete Crewing designs custom staffing solutions for unique production labor needs. We review the event scope, schedule, technology requirements, and the venue s jurisdictional issues to develop your crew schedule, timeline, and complete local labor budget. We pride ourselves in designing crewing solutions that will satisfy the jurisdictional requirements and schedule for the scope of any project. We fill all our crew calls with experienced, professional business theater technicians. We sign the union contracts so you don t have to. We re the employer of record and everyone we hire is treated legally and financially as a Complete Crewing employee. We handle issuance of payroll checks and address all HR, union benefit, insurance, and tax issues accurately, punctually and transparently. Our services help you focus your time and resources on serving your clients while we handle the crew.
The Chicago Labor Market Hiring the right crews in the Chicago market can be challenging. Union jurisdictions and affiliations are complicated and confusing, and the rules that work in one venue often do not apply to the next. Incorrect information or faulty assumptions about crew sizes or union relationships and jurisdictions can delay your production and add unanticipated expense on site. In some cases, you may be required to work with as many as eight different unions during the course of a single event. Dealing with multiple business agents to determine jurisdictions, sign contracts, and hire personnel can be frustrating and time-consuming. And signing union contracts creates financial and legal responsibilities and risks for you and your company that may extend years into the future. But it doesn t need to be that difficult. Understanding Union Rules and Jurisdictions You don t need to be a labor expert. Complete Crewing handles all of the details and reduces your workload and risk. We show you what the unions require, and we ll tell you where compromise may be possible. Because our budget process includes pre-show consultations with the appropriate union representatives, the unions will always know and will have accepted the scope of work and realistic crew requirements of your event. That way, we gain the benefit of their knowledge and expertise; we avoid jurisdictional issues and surprises during your event; and we give everyone a sense of ownership because people who are personally invested in your project will perform better. We have long-standing and positive relationships with union business agents and their members. Due in large part to the relationships we ve cultivated, people understand our expectations and are happy to work for us. We also have our own A-list of crew, and we hand pick the lead personnel for our crews whenever possible. Complete Crewing develops detailed, specific, accurate crew schedules that are free of union jurisdictional conflicts. Using our knowledge of venue logistics and labor productivity, we analyze your workflow to create crewing solutions that maximize your labor budget and keep you on track. To help you make informed decisions regarding production labor, we have prepared concise jurisdictional summaries for meeting and event work at McCormick Place and Navy Pier and distilled the relevant labor contracts down to a single page per union. They are not the actual contracts, but they contain more than enough data to assist you in making informed decisions. Information is power, but don t try to go this alone. We strongly recommend that you submit the technical specs and production schedule for your event to Complete Crewing prior to preparing a project or proposal budget. We ll review your specs and ask all the right questions, then deliver a detailed labor budget that accurately reflects the scope and schedule of your project. Give us a call to get started.
There are several unions that claim jurisdiction when setting up audio-visual for meetings and booths at McCormick Place and Navy Pier, and a few more that usually work solely on trade show booths. This document is primarily oriented toward AV production work and business events taking place in meeting rooms or on the show floor. Different jurisdictions apply for work in the Arie Crown Theater. Please contact us to discuss the specifics of your project before attempting to create a labor schedule or budget for McCormick Place and Navy Pier venues. Teamsters Local #727 This workforce will unload commercial trucks at the loading docks, operate forklifts, and move freight from the dock to the booths or meeting rooms. However, exhibitors may off-load private vehicles such as cars, ASUV and noncommercial vans in designated areas. They may transport their own material with their own non-motorized dollies. Electricians IBEW Local #134 Show managers must select an official electric contractor for their events. All electrical service and Electricians labor must be provided by the official electrical contractor. Electricians may also provide labor for Audio, Video and Lighting installations based on the designation of the work area as defined in the agreement that went into effect August 9, 2012. In designated Production Areas (primarily meeting rooms or a significant portion of an exhibit floor that has been set off as a theater or meeting room, the production cannot be part of an exhibitors booth) Electricians will: Perform all power tie-ins to the building electrical supply that exceed plugging into standard grounded 3-wire convenience AC receptacles mounted on a meeting room wall. Install and operate any sound equipment that is patched into the permanent house sound system of McCormick Place. They do not have jurisdiction if the production is providing their own PA systems. If House Lighting control is required by a production it will be programmed by Electricians. Install and focus any lighting displays in public areas or on the expo floor where a defined Production Area does not exist. In all other public areas and the exhibit floor, Electricians will maintain their previous jurisdiction and will: Bring power to all equipment in all booths and public areas. Perform all theatrical rigging, assemble, hang and cable lighting systems, install any and all sound systems and provide labor to operate, set all video monitors and computers on the show floor. Set up of multiple computers for computer workshops or labs in a meeting room. IBEW 134 maintains master jurisdiction over any electrically operated device and their jurisdictional directives can often supercede the jurisdictional claims of other locals on the exhibition floor. For example, Electricians will install and dismantle plasma or LCD video screens, even though you might think that would fall under video or projection. Electricians work together with IATSE 110 Projectionists to install and remove LED screens and video walls.
IATSE Projectionists Local #110 Projectionists maintain jurisdiction over all video projection, video wall and LED screen operation, and video playback in meeting rooms and the show floor when live camera sources are not employed. Computer interfacing on the show floor can be done by the exhibitor, but is accomplished by Projectionists in meeting rooms. Local #110 Projectionists may operate video playback devices and video switchers as long as no cameras are connected to the switcher. In the example of a booth with a projector showing images from a looping DVD or a laptop, the union will install the gear, then stop by daily for a show day turn-on call that is billed as an hour at the prevailing rate. However, if a device that requires cueing, such as a video deck, is feeding that same projector then a Projectionist will operate and switch on a show call in that booth. Should a camera be connected to the switcher, however, then the jurisdiction for switching and tape moves to IBEW # 1220. Call to discuss minimum calls for set, strike, and meeting work. IBEW Video Production Local #1220 Any time a live camera source is introduced into the production system, Local 1220 engineering personnel will be required to operate a production switcher or asynchronous AV switchers/scalers. If there are no live camera elements involved in a show then the jurisdiction falls to IATSE 110 Projectionists. IBEW 1220 provides camera operators, video engineers, video switchers, media playback and record, and video utility techs. A show with IMAG and tape usually requires a TD/Switcher, Engineer/Shader, and a Video Tape Operator, plus all Camera Operators. IATSE Stagehands Local #2 Stagehands will provide production labor for Rigging, Audio, Video and Lighting installations based on the designation of the work area as defined by the venue. In designated Production Areas (primarily meeting rooms or a significant portion of an exhibit floor that has been set off as a theater or meeting room, the production cannot be part of an exhibitors booth. Stagehands will: Install and remove electrically powered production equipment including lighting, sound, and AV equipment. This also includes production equipment which is suspended overhead. Run all of the associated cables, and power cords, and plug the equipment into finished receptacles. (Grounded 3-prong AC receptacles in facility wall or distribution panel provided by production or electrical contractor after it has been tied into and energized by the installing electrician.) Install and remove any LCD, LED, or Plasma display connected to a Production Area s video control system. Handle operation of all teleprompters. Construct and dismantle any projection screen over 14 wide. Handle any props cues and operate any scenic elements that require cued operation during a show. Installation and dismantle of hard set pieces, stages and soft goods will continue to be done by Carpenters and Decorators. In all other public areas and the exhibit floor: The Stagehands operate lighting consoles for expo and non-production events and performe on-stage operations. While Electricians rig and install lighting systems, the Stagehands are called in only to gel the lights and focus them if there is a performance stage. Stagehands also operate lighting consoles and do lighting programming. If your event is in the Arie Crown Theater, Stagehands will perform the lighting, sound and scenic work in line with their traditional theater contract.
Display Labor / Exhibit Trades (Unified Force Combining Carpenters Local #10 and Decorators Local #17) Responsible for crating and uncrating of exhibits and display materials, installing and dismantling exhibits, including cabinets, fixtures, shelving units, furniture; laying of carpet and floor tile; hanging and installation of non-electric signs; re-crating of exhibits and machinery; installing and dismantling larger scaffolding scaffolding installations, (Projectionists can install smaller single screen units), bleachers, and ganging of chairs; installing all drape, cloth, and/ or tacked fabric panels; and Velcro signs used in a booth that require tools or more than one person for installation. Of course this includes any and all pipe and drape / soft goods work for meetings and events. This group also has jurisdiction over most elements commonly thought of as theatrical scenery in a meeting environment. IATSE Stagehands may also have a part to play if the scenery is on a stage deck for a business meeting, or in a highly theatrical or tightly cued show. It is highly advisable to consult us well in advance, and we will take your plans to the appropriate parties for a jurisdictional ruling prior to your load-in. Machinery Riggers This local is responsible for the uncrating, positioning, and skidding of all machinery. They are not generally required for business meetings or events taking place on the show floor (this group does NOT do theatrical rigging. They are primarily focused on trade show booths, and large equipment, like printing presses. Riggers are also responsible for placement of and movement of cars during automotive meetings and events, and it is important to have sufficient numbers on the call whenever movement of automobiles, motorcycles, etc. may be necessary. Exhibitors may remove small computers and small appliances from crates or boxes, provided that this can be done without a forklift or any power lifting equipment.
2014 CHICAGO UNION LABOR PAY POLICIES McCORMICK PLACE & NAVY PIER CHICAGO LABOR LOCAL ST STANDARD TIME STRAIGHT TIME BASE RATE OT OVERTIME PREMIUM TIME (1.5X) BASE RATE DT DOUBLE-TIME (2X) BASE RATE STAGEHANDS IATSE LOCAL 2 8 hr minimum call Except Performance call and Screen I&D call Meal Period Meal Breaks are off clock only if full 1 hour walk-away is granted. May be after 3rd hour or no later than after the 5th hour. Otherwise, stay on clock. Penalty is assessed for each hour until break is granted 1st (8) hours of any call between 8 am and 5 pm After 8 hrs worked After 8 hrs of ST Any work after 5 pm until 12 midnight AFTER 40 HRS OF ST On a Mon-Sat work week where 40 ST hours have been exceeded first 8 hrs on Sat at OT Any work between hours of 12 midnight to 8 am Any work after 8 hrs of OT is exceeded. On any call beginning prior to 6 am DT will be paid until 8 hr break granted SHORT TURNAROUND On any call back with less than 8 hr break, DT will be paid until full 8 hr break is granted After 8 hrs of OT Any work after 5 pm until 8 am on Monday PROJECTIONISTS IATSE LOCAL 110 8 hr minimum call except some service calls at 5 hr Meal Period All hours on-site are billed on clock While the Projectionists do not have a penalty policy reasonable break timetable should be established After 8 hrs worked - MISSED MEAL BREAK No penalty clause in contract Any work between hours of 12 midnight to 8 am On any call beginning prior to 4 am DT will be paid until 8 hr break granted SHORT TURNAROUND On any call back with less than 8 hr break, DT will be paid until full 8 hr break is granted After 8 hrs of OT VIDEO PRODUCTION IBEW LOCAL 1220 8 hr minimum call Meal Period All hours on-site are billed on clock Meal break should be granted after 5th hour 1 full hour walk away or 1/2 hr if meal provided After 8 hrs of ST - MISSED MEAL BREAK One OT hour may be added as penalty for missed meal break Any work between hours of 12 midnight to 8 am On any call beginning prior to 4 am DT will be paid until 8 hr break granted SHORT TURNAROUND On any call back with less than 8 hr break, DT will be paid until full 8 hr break is granted One additional hour at prevailing rate added for each missed meal If in excess of 14 hours (ST and OT combined) - After 8 hrs of OT work
2014 CHICAGO UNION LABOR PAY POLICIES McCORMICK PLACE & NAVY PIER CHICAGO LABOR LOCAL ST STANDARD TIME STRAIGHT TIME BASE RATE OT OVERTIME PREMIUM TIME (1.5X) BASE RATE DT DOUBLE-TIME (2X) BASE RATE DECORATORS USWA LOCAL 17 Not to exceed 30 min off clock Mon-Sat-11:30 am-12 noon Sun 12 noon-12:30 pm between 6 am and 10 pm HOLIDAY PAY When work is performed on any of the contract holidays employee will paid at the regular rate plus 8 hours of straight time holiday pay. in excess of 8 hours. Up until 12 midnight First (8) hrs of any call except between 12 midnight and 6 am from 12 midnight to 6 am. After 8 hours work TEAMSTERS LOCAL 727 unless a straight time call exceeds 4 hrs in any increment then 6 hrs Not to exceed 30 min off clock between 6 am and 10 pm After 8 hrs worked between 6 am and 10 pm Any work between 10 pm and 12 midnight except between 12 midnight and 6 am from 12 midnight to 6 am. CARPENTERS UBCJA LOCAL 10 Not to exceed 30 min off clock Additional break for anyone required to work 6 hours past the first break between 8 am and 4:30 pm BREAK OF SHOW All hours worked until 8:30 pm as long as day does not exceed 8 hours After 4:30 pm. If 8 hours of work has taken place before 4:30, OT ends at 8:30 pm. If 8 hours has not been worked, OT ends at 6:30 pm. BREAK OF SHOW Break of Show after 8:30 pm until 12 midnight All work between 6 am and 6:30 pm After 6:30 pm on calls where 8 hours were not worked prior to 4:30 pm. After 8:30 pm on calls where 8 hours were worked prior to 4:30 pm. All hours worked 8:30 pm to 8 am. Any work outside the hours of 6 am to 6:30 pm ELECTRICIANS IBEW LOCAL 134 Not to exceed 30 min off clock Mon-Sun-12 noon-12:30 pm or no later 4 hours into call Additional break for anyone required to work 4 hours past the first break, only the first break is taken off of the clock between 6 am and 10 pm MISSED MEAL/BREAK Will be billed as additional time on the end of the call After 8 hours of standard time Any work performed from 10 pm to 12 midnight between 12 midnight and 4:30 pm This document was prepared for informational purposes only and states only the current billing policies of Complete Crewing. Due to the complexity of the various work rules we strongly suggest that clients base event budgets only on quotes directly from Complete Crewing for a specific event. Complete Crewing will honor only written estimates prepared by their representatives as individual union contract terms may be subject to change at varying times throughout a calendar year. Any work performed from 12 midnight to 6 am Any work performed Any work outside the hours of 6 am to 6:30 pm All hours worked