Local 727 Members Overwhelmingly Vote to Ratify New Master Trade Show Industry and Trade Show Warehouse CBAs

Teamsters Local 727 trade show industry members overwhelmingly ratified a new successor Master Trade Show Industry collective bargaining agreement, as well as new warehouse agreements with trade show contractors Freeman Expositions, LLC and Global Exposition Services (G.E.S.), last week.  The three 5-year contracts are notable for including the largest historical increase in total compensation for trade show members without a reduction in crew size as well as for taking the momentous step of replacing the failing Central States Pension Fund with a 401(k) Retirement Plan.

“While it was a long, tough road, I am very proud of the Local 727 bargaining committee for sticking together throughout these challenging negotiations,” said John Coli, Jr., Secretary-Treasurer of Local 727.  “These strong agreements are a direct result of the dedication and perseverance of our committee.”

Local 727 was successful in securing a $2.50 wage increase for trade show members and a $2.25 wage increase for warehouse workers, retroactive to January 1, 2019, for year 1 of the ratified agreements.  Despite Trade Show Contractors’ threats to derail negotiations over their demand for reduced crew sizes, the Union bargaining committee stood strong and successfully preserved the 2-man crew system.

In addition to raises, the recently ratified CBAs also require Trade Show Contractors to withdraw from the struggling Central States Pension Fund by June 30.

Effective July 1, Contractors will begin making contributions on behalf of trade show industry members into a newly created 401(k) Retirement Plan.  Contractors will be required to pay $6.50 per hour worked for trade show members and $5.00 per hour worked for warehouse members into the Plan.  They will also be required to make an initial contribution to seed each retirement account in an effort to offset 24 months of Central States reductions at age 65.  While there will not be an annual vesting requirement for the new retirement plan, the 401(k) Plan will require members work a minimum of 200 hours each year to qualify.

“Local 727 has argued since day 1 of negotiations that there is no sense in paying Central States’ high contribution rates when our members will receive little, if any, of those contributions in the future.  With the introduction of the new 401(k) Plan, our trade show members will have a more secure retirement,” added Secretary-Treasurer Coli.

Members with questions should contact Local 727 Business Representative Mike DeGard at (847) 696-7500 or [email protected].

Nothing in this article should be read as the union’s waiver of any legal argument, position or grievance(s), or as a waiver of any rights, arguments, or defenses under any contract, collective bargaining agreement, or applicable law.  The union does not forfeit its right to make any and all supplemental arguments.

Category: TRADE SHOW