On Sat., March 7, the PROTEC17 Regional Executive Committee (REC) — our union’s policy-making body — convened online to conduct the business of our union. Among one of their most important roles during the winter meeting of the twice-yearly event, delegates review and adopt the PROTEC17 annual budget. In other significant moments of the March  meeting, members also approved the PROTEC17 staff contract, and voted to adopt a resolution to protect and support our immigrant communities.

The meeting opened with a welcome and tribal land acknowledgement by PROTEC17 Executive Board President Rachael Brooks. Executive Board Trustee Angeles Ize reviewed community agreements, and Trustee Zori Pruneda swore in new delegates. The meeting minutes from the fall 2026 REC were also approved by the delegate body, as was the 2026-2028 PROTEC17 staff collective bargaining agreement which was ratified by staff in January 2026. 

The theme of this REC meeting was ‘Keep on Moving’, which was reflected in the ‘state-of-the-union’ report by Executive Director Karen Estevenin. In it, she recapped some of our biggest challenges and successes from 2025, and highlighted our union in figures representing our growing membership, burgeoning training programs, and our continually expanding communications tools and outreach. 

After a review of the proposed budget by PROTEC17 Secretary-Treasurer Mason Emrys, delegates asked several budgetary questions, then voted to adopt the 2026 union budget, which includes more resources for staff, negotiations, outreach, and professional services. 

The delegate body then heard a resolution sponsored by the King County Chapter – and introduced by PROTEC17 member and REC Delegate Brad Moore – to protect the safety, dignity and civil rights of all residents in the wake of threats by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The resolution also calls on the employers of PROTEC17 members to cease all support of ICE in the workplace, among other proactive resolves. After discussion, the resolution was adopted by the delegate body. You can find an excerpt from the resolution below, and you can read the full text on our website at: protec17.org/racial-justice. 

Delegates then heard from fellow members Peter LaRussa (Port of Seattle), Johnny Mauger (Pierce County), Katie Carle (Clark County), Alexis Lair (Sound Transit), Jeannette DeCastro and Dan Morrison (both City of Portland) who shared their work struggles and union victories from the last year. Attendees then broke into smaller virtual breakout groups to talk about what keeps them moving forward when times are tough. After reconvening, there were short political and organizing reports from Political Director Mark Watson, Research Director/Oregon Legislative Advocate Elliot Levin, and Organizing Director Jessica Olivas.   

Thank you to all of the REC delegates for a productive meeting! The next REC meeting will be held in-person on October 24. Delegates will receive more information about location and logistics as we get closer to that time