“I was a naive Southern boy when I got my first “real” job and was flown to Chicago to help man a booth at McCormick Place (back when the Consumer Electronic Show had a summer show there)
Well I may have been naive but the owners were old hands.
I was amazed that we were the first booth that got to tear down and get the trucks loaded to get out of town while others waited hours (and a few, days) until I found out we had bribed the correct Union workers.
Just another reason to hate Unions.”
That was in 1966, I think.
Yes, you would have had to pay money to get your preference. If you had just waited...two hours, two days, whatever it would have been cost-free. But anyone who wants to save time, a trucker, an exhibitor, anyone, had to come across with money or merchandise or both.
I’m sure it’s still that way, especially with the Head Union Steward now occupying the White House.
This was in the 70's. We also had two hookers on retainer (they were gorgeous Ridge Tool Calender models) for the big hitters from K-Mart etc.)
Being from the South, I had never dealt with Unions before and I got "caught" putting up a first aid kit on the wall of the booth. (requirement for installation....a screw and a screwdriver). I had to quit until some worthless slob finally got around to it.