Facility/Operational Policies

General Decorating Contractor

General Decorating Contractors are hired by your event manager. They are generally responsible for the physical planning of the event, the shipment and delivery of exhibition freight, the rental of furniture, carpets and other booth/exhibit equipment and the building and dismantling of most of the exhibits. General contractors supply their own on site management and supervisors and hire freight moving and exhibit building labor from the Javits Center.

Exhibit Appointed Contractors

Exhibit Appointed Contractors (EAC's) are hired by exhibitors to build and dismantle exhibits. EAC's supply their own on-site management and hire exhibit building labor employed by the Javits Center. In order to hire labor directly from the Center, EAC's must open an account, which requires, among other things, the posting of a guarantee of payment bond or letters of credit and the fulfillment of certain insurance requirements.

Labor Provided by the Center

The Center provides skilled and courteous employees to perform most of the labor needed for events.  With few exceptions (explained below), Event Managers, Contractors and Exhibitors must hire the Center’s employees to perform the following work:

Freight Moving

Javits' Freight Handlers are responsible for loading and unloading trucks and delivering exhibitor freight and machinery to and from exhibitors' booth; loading and unloading decorating contractors' equipment to and from a marshalling point on the exhibit show floor; and perform rigging work with forklifts. Freight Handlers are hired from the Center by general decorating contractors. Freight Handlers work under the direction and supervision of the general decorating contractor and their shifts are determined and organized by the contractor. Freight Handlers are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 807.

Work Hours: Freight Handlers have three shifts per day, per event, per contractor and are paid straight time from Monday to Friday (except holidays). Freight Handlers are paid overtime (1 1/2 times) for Monday to Friday work over eight hours and all day Saturday and Sunday. They are paid double time for all work on holidays.  Freight Handler’s have 11 holidays: New Year's Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and Christmas.

Freight Moving Exhibitors May Do Themselves ("Hand Carry Policy")

• Hand carried items can be brought in through the front of the building (east side) and at specified times, the north side, as long as traffic regulations are obeyed. Temporary loading and unloading zones are assigned and managed by Javits Public Safety personnel in conjunction with show management staff. Loading and unloading of vehicles is limited to vehicles no larger than an Econoline van. Vehicles must be attended by a licensed driver at all times.
• Moving company trucks may be loaded and unloaded only on the Javits Center loading dock by Javits Freight Handlers. Such trucks may not be loaded or unloaded in front of the building or on the north end or anywhere else in the vicinity of the Center, as their freight is not considered "hand carry" regardless of its size. Under no circumstances will moving company employees, or any persons other than Javits Freight Handlers or direct employees of an exhibiting company engaged in legitimate "hand carry," be permitted to handle freight on Javits Center property.
• Exhibitors may use nothing larger than a two-wheeled baggage cart (plastic or rubber wheels only) to move their items. Hanging clothing racks with four wheels are allowed for moving hanging garments.
• "Pop-up" displays, equal or less than 10' in length, capable of being carried by hand by one person may be brought in.
• Exhibitors moving items must use the doors and routes designated by event management.
• Individuals moving these items must be employees of the exhibiting company and must carry identification with them to verify this fact.

Exhibit Building

Carpenters perform crating and recrating, and all work involved in the erection and dismantling of exhibits, displays, backgrounds and booths; all work requiring the use of bolts and screws or nail fasteners; tying, hanging or nailing, taping of flags, banners, signs, tile and rug-laying, skidding and reskidding and turntables; handling and delivery of furniture, carpeting, modular interlocking booth systems and other contractor owned and leased equipment; pad wrapping, protection work, ramp protection; and installing draperies, including but not limited to wall draperies, table skirting, booth equipment draperies, flag and bunting and party decorations. They also do certain other unskilled work.   Carpenters are represented by the International Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, New York District Council. Carpenters are hired from the Center by general decorating contractors and exhibitor appointed contractors. Carpenters work under contractors' direction and supervision and their shifts are organized and determined by the contractor.

Work Hours: Carpenters have three shifts per day, per event, per contractor and are charged at straight time rates for the first eight hours of shift work. Monday to Friday (except holidays). Carpenters are paid overtime (1 1/2 x) for work more than 8 hours (Monday-Friday) and all day Saturday and certain Sundays. On other Sundays and on all holidays, they are paid double time.  Carpenters have 10 holidays: New Year's Day; President's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day ; Election Day (in a Presidential Election year); Thanksgiving and the day after and Christmas.

Building Work Which Exhibitors May Do Themselves

• Exhibitors may install or dismantle their exhibit and lay carpet in their exhibit as long as the booth size is 100 square feet or less and work can be done without tools. Exhibitors may unpack, pack and arrange their merchandise and products in their exhibit. Those performing the work above must be employees of the exhibiting company and must carry identification to verify that fact.
• Exhibitors may be able to erect and dismantle "pop-up" displays and booths which do not exceed ten (10) feet in length and can be erected and/or dismantled by one full time employee of the exhibiting company, using no tools, in one half (1/2 ) hour or less. A "pop up" display at the Javits Center is defined as a self-contained unit which can be hand-carried by one employee. The Center may issue more detailed rules on this from time to time.

Rigging Work

Rigging is performed by Javits employees. The nature of the work involved will determine which employees perform rigging work.

Electric Work

Javits' electricians install and remove all electrical wiring, load centers, disconnects and distribution panels. Electricians install and dismantle all lighting, except 10x10 ft. pop up booths with four or less lights , all electric signs, all communication and video cable between or outside exhibits and under carpet, and sound systems. Electricians also operate certain sound, light and video systems. Electricians are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3.

Work Hours: Electrician's regular work hours are 7:30am to 3pm. When labor charges are applied, straight time prices are charged for these hours, Monday through Friday, except weekday holidays. For all other move-in hours overtime rates will apply. All move-out hours will be charged at the applicable rate.  Electricians have 11 holidays; New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; President's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day ; Election Day; Thanksgiving and the day after and Christmas.

Electrical Work Exhibitors May Do Themselves

• Exhibitors may plug in their own devices and equipment for properly ordered 110 volt electrical service of 1500 watts or less.
• Exhibitors may plug in their own devices of 110 volt/ 1500 watts themselves.
• An exhibitor with a 100 sq. ft booth and one 500 watt order may hang and dismantle their own lights without tools and ladders
• Connect modems, printers, computers and keyboards.
• Install their own light bulbs.
• Test and tune their own equipment.
• Run their own communications cable between machines in the same booth above the booth carpet.
• Exhibitors may install and dismantle their own lights in booths 100 square feet or less without the use of tools or ladders.

Telephone Work

Javits' telephone electricians install, remove and repair all telephone lines. Telephone technicians are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 3.

Work Hours: Telephone electrician's normal work hours are 7:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. each day. Most of the telephone service rates include labor. Telephone labor is only applied for work as requested which is not part of the service order form and for repairs and relocation. In these instances, straight time rates are charged Monday to Friday, 7:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. (except holidays). At all other times, Monday through Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays), overtime rates are charged.  Telephone electricians have 11 holidays; New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; President's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day ; Election Day; Thanksgiving and the day after and Christmas.

Telephone Work Exhibitors May Do Themselves

• Exhibitors may plug and unplug their phones, modems, faxes or credit card readers.

Plumbing Work

Javits' plumbers install and remove all compressed air lines, water and drain lines, sinks, hot water heaters, and overhead venting. Plumbers make all final connections to the compressed air, water and drainage systems. Plumbers also store, handle and connect bottled gas and fill and drain all water tanks over 20 gallons. Plumbers are represented by Plumbers Union Local 1.

Work Hours:  Normal work shift for plumbers is 7:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. Most of the plumbing service rates include labor. Plumbing labor is only applied for work as requested which is not on the plumbing service order form and for repairs and relocations. In these instances, straight time rates are charged Monday to Friday 7:30 A.M. to 3 P.M. (except holidays). At all other times (including hours after 3 P.M. to 7:30 A.M. Monday through Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays) overtime rates are charged.  Plumber's have 10 holidays; New Year's Day; President's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day: Election Day; Thanksgiving and the day after and Christmas.

Plumbing Work Exhibitors May Do Themselves

Test, tune or repair water, drain, air and gas lines on the exhibitor side of the disconnect to the building system.

Cleaning

Javits' Cleaners vacuum, shampoo and sweep all carpeting, empty waste baskets and supply and handle containers for removing hazardous wastes. Cleaners are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Work Hours: Cleaners work at any time as determined by Javits management or, when porter service is ordered, at times requested by exhibitors.

Cleaning Work Exhibitors May Do Themselves

• Exhibitor may clean and wipe down their products and display merchandise and parts of their exhibit not installed by other Javits labor.

Meeting Room Set Up

Javits' set-up personnel move and arrange all "house" furniture for use in meeting rooms. Your event manager gets the first set-up per day at no charge. A charge is normally assessed for changeovers and additions. Set-up personnel are represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Work Hours:  Javits' set-up personnel work at times determined by Javits management.

Use of Company Personnel as Managers and Supervisors.

Contractors are permitted to use their own personnel as managers and supervisors of the labor described above, provided that they have completed a questionnaire, been approved by the Center and affirm that they are performing only legitimate managerial tasks, and that the company maintains a reasonable ratio of managers and supervisors to labor.  Violation of any of these conditions shall result in a revocation not only of the supervising employee's authorization, but also of the contractor's authorization to conduct business at the Javits Center.

Important: These rules are designed to protect the Center's important business interests.  The Center reserves the right to eject anyone working in violation of these rules as well as the exhibitors, contractors and others for whom they are performing work.