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Trades focus on auto show

Date Posted: January 19 2007

DETROIT - Hundreds of construction workers re-made Cobo Center into the North American International Auto Show, which wraps up Sunday, Jan. 21

In 2007, The Detroit Auto Dealers Association will celebrate 100 years of sponsorship of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)/Detroit Auto Show. Since its inception in 1907, the show has grown from a regional event featuring 17 exhibitors to an internationally sanctioned show with over 90 exhibitors, adding nearly $600 million to the metro Detroit region last year alone. The NAIAS features more new vehicle debuts and garners more media coverage than any other automotive event in North America.

Reflecting the lousy economy for domestic auto manufacturers, Iron Workers Local 25 steward Mike Decker said "displays have been downsized, in some cases they've reduced the size of the displays." And employment for the building trades at Cobo Center has been reduced compared to recent years, also.

ADJUSTING A LIGHT in the Ford display at the North American International Auto Show is Tom Colegrove of IBEW Local 58 and Motor City Electric.
INSTALLING A NEW enclosure for doors at the entrance of Cobo Center are Scott Labrash and Tom Knotek of Glaziers and Glassworkers Local 357 and Christy Glass.