Teamsters Local 117

Tukwila, WA

This is the 2025 fellowship description for this mentor organization.

Teamsters Local 117 is one of the largest Teamsters locals in the country. We represent 17,000 workers throughout Washington State in both private and public sector employment. Local 117 is one of the most dynamic and active unions in the Pacific Northwest. We have a legal department, consisting of a General Counsel and two Staff Attorneys, an organizing department, a communications department, a dedicated lobbyist and a political director.

Teamsters Local 117 was chartered nearly 80 years ago. Our membership is incredibly diverse - from accountants to zookeepers and every type of worker in between. Our largest single bargaining unit is made up of approximately 5,800 people who work in Washington's adult prisons, including correctional officers, mental health professionals, medical staff, administrative personnel, truck drivers. Local 117 has 200 collective bargaining agreements with area employers.

Our Peggy Browning Fellow will be exposed to and participate in every aspect of Local 117's legal work, including labor arbitration hearings, contract negotiations, worker meetings, board charges, legal research and brief writing. Our Fellow will also have the opportunity to shadow our other departments to get a sense of the legal issues that arise in organizing workers, communicating with members and allies, and engaging in political advocacy. If there are labor-related conferences or trainings that the legal staff will be attending, the Union will also pay for our Fellow to attend.

The stipend for this fellowship will be $25 per hour ($10,000 for the full 10-week fellowship). Students typically work 40 hours per week.

Address cover letter to:

Fallon Schumsky, General Counsel
Teamsters Local Union No. 117
14675 Interurban Avenue S., Suite 307
Tukwila, WA 98168