EXCLUSIVE: the Los Angeles Auto Show (LAAS), also known as AutoMobility LA, is drawing less people, less brands and less vendors. And it’s because of the required use of union labor, even when it’s not needed.
A vendor, who wishes to remain anonymous for fear his business will suffer, tells me his operation is mobile and can be set-up in under an hour by him and his business partner. But this year his contract required he pay for union labor to help with construction of the booth.
“I don’t need help, but in order to do business at the LAAS, I had to spend money for one guy to watch me set up.” I asked why he couldn’t have the union worker do it? “He didn’t speak English. We tried, but he couldn’t understand the directions. So he sat there scrolling on his phone while we worked.”
The vendor says he lost $50,000 dollars this year because traffic was down. “All the vendors big and small have to pay for union labor and if you have a big display, the requirement is higher.”
Sources tell me the LA Convention Center union work requirement is partially why big brands like Mercedes, BMW and Audi did not have a presence at LAAS this year. And without them, the show is drawing less people, and vendors are making less money.
“I don’t know if I will bring my business back next year.”
