How to Find Certified Union Labor for Trade Show Booth Setup

• Nov 05,2025

How do you find certified union labour for your trade show booth setup and still keep things running smoothly?

Honestly, it’s one of those headache areas many exhibitors don’t think about until show day.
You’ve booked your space, designed your booth – maybe a slick 10×10 trade show display or even a bold 20×20 trade show booth – but then you hit venue rules, labour contracts, and surprise costs. I’ve talked to enough exhibit-builders and marketing teams to know this is where money leaks and delays happen.

Here’s a straight talk guide from me, seasoned in the field of trade show booth design and execution, on how to find compliant, certified union-labour, avoid risks and stay on budget.

The challenge: union labour + booth installation = risk if you’re unprepared

When you design your trade show booth display – whether it’s a simple pop-up 10×10 trade show display or a custom 20×20 trade show booth with walls, lighting, and audio-visual – the installation and dismantle (I&D) work may be subject to union regulations. 
Here’s what causes the pain:

Different venues, even within the same city, enforce different labour rules. 

Unions have defined jurisdictions: what they alone can do (e.g., use ladders, power tools, heavy rigging) vs what your team may handle. If you mess up and do work that’s restricted to union labour, you might get charged for it anyway or face show-floor sanctions. 

Labour rates (especially overtime, holiday, or after-hours) can escalate your budget fast. 

So, you can’t just design the booth (be it a 10×10 trade show display or a full island 20×20 trade show booth) and assume installation will be “straightforward” labour. You need certified union labour when required — and you need to choose it wisely.

How to find certified union labour – a step-by-step

Here’s how I’d recommend you tackle it, in business-reporter style, no fluff, focusing on the actionable.

1. Check the Exhibitor Services Manual (ESM)
Every show sends this out (often via the General Services Contractor). It lays out labour rules at that venue for that show. For example: “All booths over X size must use union carpenters for I&D.” 
Read the labour section closely. Identify: which unions are involved; what work they cover; what your in-house team CAN do. For instance, many venues allow exhibitors to handle a 10×10 trade show display if it’s “tool-less” and under a certain height. 

2. Define your booth type and scope
If you’re deploying a standard 10×10 trade show display with modular walls and no heavy rigging, your labour needs are simpler.
If you’ve gone for a customised 20×20 trade show booth – with hard walls, overhead signage, lighting rigs, audio-visual – chances are you’ll need union labour for certain works. 
Knowing your booth scope helps you talk to labour providers and get accurate quotes.

3. Ask for certified union labour crews via an Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC) or the GSC’s union list
In many shows, you can hire labour through the show’s General Services Contractor (GSC). Or you can appoint your own contractor (EAC) who provides certified union labour and submits required paperwork (often Certificate of Insurance, etc) to show management. 
When speaking to the labour provider, ask: “Are your labourers union-certified for this venue?” “What classification levels?” “What’s the hourly/flat rate and what’s overtime?”

4. Confirm the union classification and scope of work clearly
Unions often label labourers as A (journeyman), B (apprentice), etc. The rate differs accordingly. 
You need to match classification to the work: carpenters for booth build, riggers for signage/hanging,and electricians for power. At one venue, you might need union electricians to plug in even modest equipment. 

5. Budget and schedule carefully
Because union labour costs can escalate, you should plan ahead. Avoid overtime by scheduling labour during “straight time” hours. Many show manuals give early-order discounts. 
Set your timeline: e.g., arrival, crate unloading, booth build, inspections, show open, dismantle. Labour providers will ask for times.
Remember: for a 20×20 trade show booth, build and dismantle take longer and may require more labour crews.

6. Verify credentials on-site and maintain oversight
On show-floor move-in, check that the crews provided are as you booked (union certified, correct classification). Assign a point person from your team or your exhibit house to supervise the labour schedule and alignment with your booth build timeline.

Why this matters for your trade show booth design

When you incorporate labour concerns at the design phase of your trade show booth display, you reduce risk and maximise your budget. Here’s how:

Your design will anticipate what labour is needed (so a simpler “tool-less” 10×10 trade show display may mean you don’t require heavy union labour, reducing cost).

For a 20×20 trade show booth, you’ll anticipate labour vs graphic vs AV vs rigging — and negotiate correctly with labour suppliers.

You’ll avoid nasty surprises like: “We need union carpenters for any work involving ladders – so you’ll pay double” kind of message on site. That kills budget. Your build schedule stays on track: labour delays mean booth isn’t ready when show opens → lost attendee time → lost leads. That hits ROI.

My suggestion: a simple checklist for your next show

Get the ESM and highlight the labour rules section.

Map your booth: size (10×10, 20×20, or other), build components (walls, rigging, AV).

Ask: Which union classifications apply to your booth and venue?

Request three quotes for labour: GSC labour, certified union EAC, alternative contractor (if allowed).

Choose a labour crew and schedule during straight time. Submit required paperwork (EAC form, insurance) early.

On move-in day, assign your supervisor, confirm labour crew, monitor progress vs schedule.

After show, review labour invoice versus hours scheduled – learn lessons for next time.

Final word

If you treat certified union labour as just another cost line, you’ll be surprised. But if you treat it as a critical partner in your trade show booth design and setup, you’ll save money, avoid hassles, and build better for your 10×10 trade show displays or 20×20 trade show booth investments.
Get your labour ducks in a row early, design with the rules in mind, and your booth build becomes a strength — not a hidden cost burden.