The 1997 Jet Equipment Organizing Rally

In 1997 the employees at Jet Equipment in Kent, WA began an organizing campaign to become a part of Teamsters Local 117. Many members of other unions including ILWU Local 19 attended a rally in front of the Jet warehouse in Kent, WA.

Organizer Paul Bigman from Chicago was recently hired by the ILWU as an organizer for the Washington area and this was his first rally as an ILWU organizer. 

Jobs with Justice was in attendance and they set up a stage across the street in a vacant lot for the speakers. The members of the different unions met each other for the first time and there were many good conversations and everyone had a great time marching under the gray skies.

Unfortunately the organizing campaign was a failure and Jet Equipment remained a non-union shop. 

Event Photos