CES Alexis Park exhibitor question

I'm helping a friend who will be exhibiting at the CES for the first time, specifically at the Alexis Park.
I know that Unions can be a problem at theses events. I have read (horror) stories in show coverage.
I know that exhibitors are told that they have to use union labour to move their equipment to their exhibit rooms, at a hefty price, of course.
Have any of you had any experience with this, or know if it is possible for an exhibitor to move their own equipment into their own room?! I would think that most people hate the idea of having to pay through the nose to have someone else move their equipment when they are quite capable of doing it themselves....more carefully too!