For the first time in generations, the Tacoma-Pierce County area celebrated May Day’s origin of labor with a rally at the ILWU Hall in Fife. Over 150 people attended for a volunteer-prepared dinner of bbq chicken and spareribs, to support the UFCW workers in their hour of need and to celebrate the past and future victories of labor.

The America In Solidarity-led event was co-sponsored by several local unions and featured several energetic speakers. Ottilie Markholt, an 88-year-old historian and local labor leader, discussed the origin of May Day.  Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma then spoke about the past history of labor unions in the area.

The theme of the evening was to look at May Day’s past but also to look at the attack upon America’s working families on May Day 2004. Terry Qunell, a 30+year member of the UFCW talked about the current grocery worker struggle. He was then followed by thundering speeches from State Rep. Steve Conway and the ILWU’s Joe Wenzl about the current attack on labor. State Rep. Mike Cooper, who is running for Commissioner of State Lands and Pierce County Labor Council’s Secretary-Treasurer Patty Rose followed with rousing conclusions on corporate greed and what must be done to stop it.

Concluding the evening was a special spoken word presentation by America In Solidarity’s Zeek Green.