McCormick Place union workers are waking up to a rude realization this morning that their Democratic friends aren't as friendly as they thought they were. Governor Quinn's weak veto of overhauling McCormick Place's work rules and restructuring of its management system was overwhelmingly ignored and overridden within days of Quinn's rejection.
The House quickly joined the Senate in voting overwhelmingly to reject Quinn's amendatory veto, putting into place a law that aims to halt the exodus of trade shows that object to high costs in Chicago. The House vote of 93-19 followed a Senate vote of 51-2, with one lawmaker casting a present vote.
Major convention holders had given the state until Friday to make the drastic changes, or they were going elsewhere next year, taking their conventioneers with them.
"We have no doubt this will put us in a position to suggest approval of a long-term commitment to the city of Chicago," said Phil Brandl, president of the International Housewares Association, whose annual show has been a cornerstone of the city's convention business since 1939. His board of directors could make a decision on whether to stay put for 2012 and beyond as soon as Friday.
