As I've written in the last few months, union-price gouging and arcane rules are driving lucrative trade shows from Chicago to more exhibitor friendly locales such as Orlando and Las Vegas. Based on what I read in this morning's Chicago Sun-Times, you can add featherbedding the public payroll to that list:
Even as convention business has plummeted, the number of people on the payroll of the government agency that runs McCormick Place and Navy Pier who are paid more than $100,000 a year has grown.
A Chicago Sun-Times analysis of payroll records shows 54 employees of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority were making at least $100,000 as of September 2009. That's eight more than the agency, familiarly known as McPier, had in 2006, the records show -- a 17 percent increase.
Among the $100,000-plus club is McPier's $153,359-a-year senior development director, Nonda Harris, one of eight top-paid agency employees who share this distinction:
They made one of the "clout hiring lists" that have come to light in recent years showing they had someone with political connections recommend them for a job at some point with Mayor Daley's administration or that of ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Illinois needs a massive repair project.
Related posts:
Union work rules driving trade shows from Chicago
Mayor Daley denounces price gouging at city's convention center
Electrical services costs at Chicago trade show "four to eight times" what they were in Orlando
Dallas wins out over Chicago for new trade show
Chicago's mounting trade show woes
Chicago Tribune: A third major trade show may bail on Chicago
Union "tyranny of the few" drives Plastics Show from Chicago
Marathon Pundit on CBS 2 Chicago
Agency that runs Chicago's convention centers "in deep financial hole"
Union extortionists may drive another trade show from Chicago
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