2025 Organizing Report: PROTEC17 grew by nearly 400 members in new classifications!

In 2025, newly organized PROTEC17 members faced challenges head-on and made it known that we are a force to be reckoned with! In many of our external organizing campaigns, new members persevered in forming their union and in negotiating their first contracts despite obstacles and set backs, building unity and solidarity in the process. 

In total, we organized 23 new classifications resulting in 383 new members joining our union at City of Seattle, King County, City of Portland, Sound Transit, and Pierce Transit – a new employer to PROTEC17. Our union’s expansion into other transit agencies in the region is a natural fit given the thousands of public sector transportation workers we represent at the state, county, and city levels; and transit workers are seeking out PROTEC17 so that they can be in solidarity with other union members in their field. 

Over the last year, Sound Transit workers in the Community Engagement Division, Permit Administration Division, Environmental & Sustainability Division, plus Fare Ambassadors, Fare Ambassador Supervisors, and Transit Systems Electronics Technicians and Coordinators were recognized by the Public Employee Relations Commission (PERC) as unionizing with PROTEC17. At Pierce Transit, we welcomed IT Analysts. 

Contract negotiations at both of these transit agencies has not been easy, with employers that have been less than union-friendly. This is especially true for our newest members at Sound Transit who have been met with resistance as they continue negotiating their first contract, and have taken escalating actions to show their employer they are united – including showing up en masse to the Sound Transit Board meeting in November, pictured.

At City of Seattle, City of Portland, and King County, our organizing efforts have been much less contentious due to our long-standing established presence at these employers. 

At King County, we now represent Functional Analysts in DCHS, Contract Specialists in the Facilities Management Division, Project/Program Managers in Finance and Administrative Services, and all employees in the Safety, Security, and Quality Assurance (SSQA) Division.

The City of Seattle – our union’s largest Chapter – continues to grow as well. Last year, we welcomed members from many different classifications. These include: Public Relations Specialists; Fire Protection Engineers; Management Systems Analysts (Seattle Public Utilities); Dispute Resolution Mediator and Strategic Advisor 2’s (Office of Civil Rights); Recreation Program Coordinator Seniors (Parks); Community Development Specialists, Administrative Staff Assistants and others in the Office of Economic Development; Community Crisis Responders and Supervisors; Strategic Advisors and other positions in the Office of Housing; and Shop Operation Supervisors in the Finance and Administrative Services department. 

In Portland, the Capital Project Manager III’s joined their I and II colleagues in PROTEC17 to grow their collective union power, which is especially important as the City of Portland is currently in contract negotiations.

The mission of our Organizing department is to maintain, grow, and strengthen the power of our union through strategic campaigns to increase our density internally, and externally in our industries. If you have unrepresented colleagues who are interested in joining our union, please reach out to Organizing Director Jessica Olivas at .