Whether you’re out-of-town or Chicago-based, working with the Chicago labor market can be complex and time-consuming.

We can improve your Chicago experience. We will tell you what the labor unions will expect, and where they might be willing to compromise. As Chicago’s leading staging and event labor contractor, we have navigated the waters of the various stage and exhibit trade unions in the city: IATSE Local 2 Stagehands, IATSE Local 110 Projectionists, IBEW Local 1220 Video Technicians and Camera Operators, IBEW Local 134 Electricians, USWA Decorators Local 17, Carpenters Local 10, Teamsters Local 714 and Machinist Riggers Local 136.

Because our 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. Exact duties of all show positions are also detailed on our call sheets, so the unions know whom to put on the show, and you get crews with the requisite know-how.

We have long-standing and positive relationships with union Business Agents. 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 handpick our crews whenever possible.

As Chicago’s largest labor broker, we payroll millions of dollars in labor every year; so we provide you with important leverage with our Union partners.

In some cases, you may be working on a project taking place in a smaller or non-traditional venue, or require supplemental lead labor. We also offer flexible, non-union labor solutions for your unique needs. We have a vast network of freelance technicians in all stagehand and AV labor disciplines; and in cases where non-union labor is recommended and available, we can assemble a crew of the finest professionals in the market.

As your labor source, Event Engineering operates as the official employer of record for all of our technical, staging and event crews. Everyone we hire is treated – legally and financially – as an Event Engineering employee. We distribute and collect all federal W4 and I9 forms; we handle all employee payroll, payroll taxes, and union P & W benefit payments; we also process all W2’s. To protect you, your clients and our workers, we carry all necessary General Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance.

At some venues, you may be dealing with as many as eight different unions during the course of a single event. Incorrect information or faulty assumptions about union relationships and jurisdictions can lead to confusion and unnecessary “surprises” on site.

Event Engineering always deals directly and in advance with union business agents to confirm your crew requirements. We develop detailed, specific, accurate crew schedules that are free of union jurisdictional conflicts. We also schedule staggered crew calls whenever and wherever possible, so you’re not paying for people before they’re necessary.

To help you make informed decisions regarding stage labor, we have prepared summary Jurisdictional Breakdowns for most Chicago venues and a summary of union pay policies. These are available in Acrobat PDF format:

Sample Jurisdiction Breakdowns:
Chicago Hotels: Sheraton, Palmer House, Hyatt
MPEA Venues: McCormick Place, Navy Pier
Union Pay Policy Information