George Tsongas' Memorial

Brother George Tsongas' memorial packed the Cafe Trieste with friends and fellow San Francisco poets, many reading George's poetry as well as their own. It was a reminder that our Union members contribute more to the life of the City than just our labor at the Convention Center. Pictured above: a recent photograph of George on display at the memorial and his son Alex speaking to the crowd.

A New Arrival

Proud parents Mounir Diakite, his wife Tinika, and his three year old son, Moise Assim recently welcomed an addition to their family. Maleek Diakite was born on December 10, 2009, just in time for all the holidays.

A New Year Is Here

And with it a new feature's been added to this web site to help our members plan and schedule their lives. It's an expanded calendar that lists all the shows at Moscone from today through the end of July. Click Here or on the "Long Term Calendar" link on the left side of this page to check it out. It goes through July now but more's to come.

Upcoming Work

Photonics, which is at Moscone this year, will start moving in on the Thursday January 21st and will close on the 28th. DesignCon, the Gift Show, Macworld, Photovoltaics, and Molecular Medicine all begin moving in during the first week of February.

For all the times, dates and details please check the Calendar and Schedule.

Contract Proposals

The Union met at a special meeting on Jan 13th and voted to ratify the report of the Proposals Committee. Owen Murphy, Joe Toback and Mike Kraemer were elected Rank & File members of the Negotiating Committee. John Kyle, Jim Gates and Bill Fogarty were chosen as alternates.

On Their Way Up

Leslie Silberhans, Eric Path, Deborah Fowler and Ann Worth sit proudly on one of their projects at the two day Advanced Graphics class held on Dec. 1st & 2nd.

Open Door Policy

Only the conference room doors remain standing as Alan Van Tress takes a break during the dismantle of DAC.

Czarnowski's Crew

Installers and riggers stand proud and happy in front of a massive graphics job that recently graced the floor of Moscone Center. Often we focus on the window treatments that decorate the outside of the halls and forget about the everday heroism of our members who put up the exhibits and make them look good.

The Big Apple(s)

The window treatment for Apple's WWDC dominates the local skyline.

Outside Looking In

Local 510 Officers: Josh Ende and Mike Pointer keeping an eye on the window graphics job at the Apple WWDC.

Employee Free Choice Act

Update: The Employee Free Choice Act has now been presented to the 111th Congress. Things are definitely heating up! There were 233 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives and 40 co-sponsors in the Senate. Click Here To see how our elected representatives voted.

California's two Senators have supported us in the past. Senator Barbara Boxer is already a co-sponsor. Please Click Here to send her a Thank You note for supporting us and the Employee Free Choice Act.

We wrote messages to Senator Feinstein during our February Union Meeting. She replied to our letters but hasn't yet spoken in favor the Employee Free Choice Act. It would be good for her to hear from every 510'er... Click Here to download a Local 510 letter, add a personal note to it, and return it to the Local 510 office (we will also be collecting them on the show floor).

Remember, a lot of people who don't have a voice at work are counting on us to see that they get their rights!

Picket Line In San Mateo

You're never to young to make a stand. Pictured above is Ashley Mumy (daughter of John Mumy) who has been manning the line for six days straight now. Won't you join her and members of Local 510 along with the Teamsters, Stagehands and Electricians in a collective action at the San Mateo Expo Center. We want to have a strong showing over this weekend and we need every member who can make it to be there. Click here for directions. This action will continue until the issue is resolved. Please check the tape for the latest updates.

Upcoming Work

"Roaring like a lion!" is how March is both beginning and ending this year. Don't know if that will be true for the weather but it's a sure forecast for trade show work.

Racquet Sports begins to fill both the North and South Halls at the end of this week.

As Racquet closes Game Developers starts filling the West and North Halls. Embedded Systems begins a full hall show in San Jose on the same day that Game Developers closes. That date is March the 27th. B's C's and Extras should make sure to check their dispatch messages often that week and the next because both Web 2.0 and Cataract Surgeons are moving in on the 29th and 30th respectively.

Please check March's Calendar and Schedule for all the gory details.

New Benefits Website

Allied Administrators has put up a website to help our members use and understand their medical and pension benefits. On it you'll find Overviews, FAQs, Forms and complete copies of the Medical and Pensions booklets. Coming soon: a secure sign-in to check your elegibility. Click here: www.signbenefits.com to check it out

2009 Class Schedule

The schedule for JATC Training classes has just been revised. To get the lowdown on the updates: please click here to see what classes are being offered, and when they are scheduled.

The Employee Free Choice Act

The New Year began with a new President. Our Union worked hard to see him elected, and we talked to other Union members about what needs to be changed before we can rebuild this country.

We have seen what has happened to people with no union to defend their interests and to bargain for fair wages and decent working conditions. Our economy has run dry, and part of the problem is that the majority of Americans have been receiving less and less pay in return for their work until not enough comes in to pay the bills.

The economy can not become solid again unless people have jobs that pay a decent living. And the only way to ensure those jobs pay fair wages is for people to have the right to choose a union.

There is a bill in Congress which would give people a fairer chance to join a union. It's called the Employee Free Choice Act. It does three things:

1) Establishes stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations. Right now, the penalties are so minor that, in practice, they encourage illegal behavior.

2) Provides mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes. Currently, Corporations who have agreed to bargain with a union can stall, and end up avoiding their first contract.

3) Allows employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation. Right now, workers have no choice about whether to either hold an election over union membership or choose to begin negotiations once a majority sign up for the union.

Follow these links to learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act and to send a message to Congress:

• 10 Facts About The Employee Free Choice Act
• The Employee Free Choice Act
• Send A Message

Good Bye Fancy Food

Apple Has Left The Building...

...roll up the rugs and turn out the lights. Greg Posadas and Dave Collin begin the tear down of Macworld 2009. But as that show fades from our rear view mirror plenty more work lies ahead. Check the Upcoming Work article below for a preview of January's end and February's start.

Beginnings & Endings

Apple rocked our world with the announcement that they would be lowering the curtain for the last time on their exhibit at Macworld and would not be returning in 2010.

But the show goes on. IDG reminds us that there will still be a Macworld next year. Early reports are that 90% of the exhibitors have already signed on for "The start of a new era".

News of Apple's departure didn't noticably dampen any spirits. The show floor was abuzz with interest in all the products and services on display.

There's a lot of talk about economic uncertainty these days, but let's not forget that 2008 was a boom year for most 510ers. Many of us share the joy shown by Elisa Smith at the International Motorcycle Show in San Mateo.

The Motorcycle show is typically marks the end of the year for Local 510. The bikes sure were pretty, but they weren't the "baddest" rides on the floor...

...Those would be the forklifts and carts, like the one being driven by Teamster foreman Guy Richter. We don't do our jobs alone, and we should remember to give thanks for all the help we get from the legion of teamsters, electricians, stage hands and others we work with.

Holiday Party Photos

There was a cloud of concern when Santa paused for a moment to double check the "Naughty/Nice" list. Fortunately everything was A-OK and soon it was nothing but smiles all around.

And speaking of smiles... it was wall to wall grins and laughter at the annual Local 510 Holiday Party on Sunday December 7th. The food was excellent, the music was top notch and the Hall of Flowers was the perfect setting. We gathered together as family and friends to put a warm happy ending on a great year. An absoulutely fabulous time was had by all. A hearty round of appreciation is due to the legions of volunteers that worked so hard to make this party happen. All the members of Local 510 thank you for a wonderful job.

While everybody was having a great time at the party, David Krasnor was busy taking pictures. Please click here to see all your fellow members reveling in the good times.

Oracle Up & Down

Mounir Diakite and Andrew Morocco take in the view from the swing stage at Oracle World 08. Meanwhile just barely visible to Mounir's left Bill Morocco (AKA "The Hardest Working Man in the Trade Show Business) is already on the job.

Just six days later the tent is gone, the huge window logos are just a memory, and the show's properties are packed and ready to be scattered throughout the country.

Retirement Get-Togethers

The Retirement Committee has produced an agenda and gathered some basic information about retirement options. Please click here to view this material.

Raising The Bar

Four members of Local 510 at work on the high aluminum at this year's SemiCon. There was work for everyone: A, B, C List or Extra. We all pulled together and made San Francisco's largest trade show happen once again.

Fast Company

Local 510 would like to congratulate Shannon Rowbury (daughter of 510 member Gary Rowbury) on her recent performance at the U.S. Track & Field Trials in Eugene, OR. She won by nearly three seconds in 4 minutes, 5.48 seconds and has qualified for the US Olympic Team at this summer's Beijing Olympics. Please click here for the S.F. Chronicle's story on the race.

North Hall sits empty and quiet waiting for Semicon to begin its installation. Check the Show Schedule and Calendar for more details.

Retirement Get-Togethers

The Retirement Committee has produced and agenda and gathered some basic information about retirement options. Please click here to view this material.

Venues will be made available over the course of the year 2008. Various Get-Togethers will be held to accommodate different job sites, shows, and companies. There will be announcements by stewards, foremen, and committee members, as well as flyers, handouts, signs and Web postings. A Retirement Get-Together is headed your way! Our goal is to get this information out to everyone who wants it and to get our 510ers a leg up on retirement!

Workers' Compensation

If you're injured on the job you'll be covered by the California Workers' Compensation system. Most of us don't find out how this works until after we've been hurt. Learning about this system before you need it may help you get better care and service. Local 510 has put together page of links to information about Workers' Compensation and medical care, click here to view.

While laying carpet in his home John Mumy took the opportunity to begin his daughter's education in the delicate arts of trade show installation. Little Ashley is dressed for success in her Carhartt overalls but still thinks shoes are optional. I guess we'll have to sign her up for the next OSHA 10 safety class.

NADA: Before & After

It's easy to lose sight of the job we do. Recently our entire Union: A's, B's, C's, and Extras worked together to put in NADA. It really is heroic how we transform bare halls. To see a graphic example of this, check out the three photographs below. They show South Hall on February 1, the first day of set-up. Moving your mouse over "AFTER" will show South Hall on February 9, opening day.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Calm Before the Storm

By now we've all experienced the tsunami of work that NADA required. Our entire membership was put to work moving the show in. That includes members of the "B" list, "C" list and a host of Extras. But it was quite different on Friday Feb. 1 at lunch time in the West Hall. Above a lone member of Local 510 enjoys a solitary, peaceful, and quiet lunch among the pools of light and shadow that filled the lobby on that lovely day.

Sleeping Beauties

Remember there's nothing better than a lunch time nap to get you ready for the second half of the day.

If you know any "C" listers or people who would like to work as Extras please tell them to check their respective message tapes to find out when work is available. More information about becoming an Extra can be found by clicking here

Web Site Improvements

A statement about who we are and what our Union stands for has been added to our "Contact Us" page. Our photographs now have a page of their own. Click on the "Photo Gallery" link in the left hand column of this page to view them. There's also a page of links to information, about Workers' Compensation and medical care, click here to view.

Morning Light

We often take our workplaces for granted. But the light and shadows of Moscone West bring a bit of magic and wonder into our lives as we report for the day's labors.

Apple Corps

Venti-sized window treatments are becoming all the rage when a tradeshow wants to make a statement to the world. The photo above shows our members "painting" with vinyl on the canvas of Moscone's West Hall at Apple's recent World Wide Developer's Conference.

Paper Airplanes

We learned everything we needed to know in grade school. The difference is: back then they made us stay after school, now they pay us overtime. If you want to know more about making paper airplanes click here, it's always good to increase your job skills.