LV convention unions clarify work roles

Friday, Feb. 14, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

Teamsters Local 631 and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 720 have reached an agreement that clarifies and outlines each union's work roles in the Las Vegas trade show and convention industry.

Lindajo Loftus, IATSE's spokeswoman, said the agreement finalized Jan. 22 "eliminates jurisdictional conflicts between the two unions with any employer where both unions have collective bargaining agreements or where two different employers with separate agreements are working on the same project."

Ed Burke, Local 631's secretary-treasurer, agreed.

"There's a need to clarify each union's jurisdiction because the convention industry is always evolving in terms of the (technological sophistication of the) types of displays they use, which makes it harder (for employers) to determine what work which union should be doing," he said.

"Also, a lot of (Las Vegas) trade show employers are required to use Teamster labor until we run out (of workers). Then employers have the right to get labor elsewhere, and those workers don't necessarily have to be union," he said. "This agreement ensures that if Teamster labor runs out, IATSE labor will come in to supplement the shortfall."