BOEING MACHINIST UNION RALLY TO LAND 7E7 JET MANUFACTURING IN WASHINGTON STATE, 2003 (photo)

Boeing 747 jetliner electrician George Edgerton (C) and more than 1,000 fellow union members of the International Association of Machinist and Aerospace gather at a rally in Auburn, Washington, October 17, 2003 to promote Washington state as the future manufacturing location of the under-development 7E7 commercial jetliner. The Boeing corporation has downsized in recent years eliminating thousands of jobs and machinists staged the event following a day after Boeing announced the discontinuation of the 757 jetliner. Boeing attributed the discontinuation of the 757 to declining airplane sales in an depressed economy following the 9/11 attacks. The majority of Boeing's commercial airplane manufacturing is based in Washington state. REUTERS/Anthony P. Bolante APB/GAC