Chicago Teamsters to Play Their Parts During G8, NATO Summits

McCormick Place to Host Concurrent International Meetings May 19-21

The world will be watching when the G8 and NATO summits come to McCormick Place May 19-21, and Teamsters Local 727 members will be in the middle of it all.

“We are now just three months away, and we all are seeing what an immense impact this is going to have on our city and our members,” said John T. Coli, President of Teamsters Joint Council 25 and Local 727 Secretary-Treasurer. “This is a unique opportunity to show the world what Chicago has to offer, and that includes some of the hardest-working people on the planet.”

Local 727 represents hundreds of security/fire safety, traffic and receiving members at McCormick Place, as well as the workers who help set up and tear down conventions. It is unclear at this point how many members will be working at the convention center during the summit.

“Hargrove has been selected as the contractor, so until their labor call goes out, we won’t know for sure how many guys we’ll have working,” said Mike McManus, Local 727 Director of Referrals. “It’s going to be an incredibly huge event, and we will do our part to make sure it runs smoothly.”

For the first time since 1977 in London, two international summits will be held at the same time in the same city. An estimated 15,000 foreign dignitaries and international media will be in attendance, and upwards of 50,000 protesters also are expected to flood the city.

Union representatives met with McCormick Place Show Services Manager Pat Allen and Facility Floor Manager Tom Cassell on Jan. 17 to discuss what lies ahead for Local 727 members. During the three-day summit, access will be highly restricted, and shuttles will run workers from U.S. Cellular Field to McCormick Place because there will be no parking at the convention center.

“We haven’t received the specific details on when, exactly, everything will be finalized, but they are telling us about it now so we can begin to make preparations,” McManus said.

MPEA security officers also are expected to receive additional training. Union officers will meet with representatives from the Secret Service, the Department of Homeland Security and McCormick Place to discuss security and other procedures before and during the summit.

The influx of people to Chicago also will impact Local 727 members working at hotels, parking garages and O’Hare and Midway airports.

“The effects of this event are far-reaching,” Coli said. “It will be a chance for Local 727 members to shine on a grand scale, and I am confident they will rise to the challenge.”

Teamsters Local 727 is an affiliate of Teamsters Joint Council 25, which represents more than 100,000 hardworking men and women throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana.

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