What is Juneteenth? Important day now recognized as a holiday
June 19th, also known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day, marks the day in 1865 that enslaved peoples in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free — two and a half [...]
PROTEC17 members across the PNW gear up for contract negotiations this year
Thousands of PROTEC17 members from across our union are in the midst of contract negotiations or are about to kick off bargaining for their new contracts this year. From Portland [...]
Wash. legislative session ends with many wins; Ore. session ends June 27
The 2021 Washington state legislative session was challenging in many ways, but PROTEC17 showed up (virtually!) to make sure our voices were heard and we have some real victories for [...]
Unions and business community work together to stop job cuts at City of Portland’s BDS
Early this year, a remarkable coalition of Labor and Business converged around announced cuts at the City of Portland’s Bureau of Development Services (BDS). With about ninety-eight (98) percent [...]
Furloughs eliminated for state employees; 2021-23 contract in effect July 1
Because of advocacy and pressure from State employee unions – including PROTEC17 – the furloughs scheduled for the 2021-23 biennium have been eliminated. While we still need to negotiate the [...]
Vaccination efforts continue: Unions help get workers protected from COVID-19
As vaccination efforts have ramped up over the last several months to prevent the spread of COVID-19, labor unions and community partners have been tapped as trusted resources to help [...]
PROTEC17 Scholarship application now available!
The annual college scholarship program for dependents of PROTEC17 members is now open! Since its inception in 2011, PROTEC17 has awarded 17 scholarships totalling over $50,000 towards the advanced education [...]
Sessions continue in Olympia and Salem; some progress made
While the regular legislative session in Washington state is rapidly coming to its April 25 closing date, it will likely be extended to a special session to allow our elected [...]
Meet Carina, the platform that supports good union jobs and quality care for your loved ones
Imagine an online platform to connect families and individuals to the care support they need but with a fierce commitment to advocate for care workers so they can provide the [...]
Constitution vote coming in May; survey about Chapter structure open now!
The PROTEC17 constitution committee has been thoughtfully combing through our union’s governing documents for over 18 months to make much needed and neccesary changes to keep our documents current, and [...]
PROTEC17 to reopen State contract to reduce furloughs in 2021-23 biennium
During last year’s round of contract negotiations, PROTEC17 State members ratified a contract that included no cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) through the 2021-2023 biennium, as well as scheduled monthly furloughs. While [...]
Labor and PROTEC17 condemn anti-Asian violence and xenophobia as incidents climb during pandemic
PROTEC17 stands alongside our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) members and communities to condemn racism in all forms in the wake of rising anti-Asian violence and xenophobia. While racism [...]
Public Health Legislative Education Day a virtual success!
On March 4, Public Health employees from across Washington state – including many PROTEC17 members – gathered online for the first virtual Public Health Legislative Education Day. While the annual [...]
COVID-19 vaccinations roll out: PROTEC17 member shares his experience
As we approach the one-year mark of fighting the coronavirus pandemic, several vaccines have begun mass rollout across the country. Thanks to the quick and collaborative work of scientists across [...]
Union-negotiated KC emergency childcare benefit offers relief to parents during pandemic
Early in the coronavirus pandemic, PROTEC17 Union Representative Denise Cobden started noticing a trend as she returned phone calls from her members at King County. With schools closed, parents – [...]
PROTEC17 Workers’ Roundtable (PWR!) hits the ground running in 2021
A new member-led group – called the PROTEC17 Workers’ Roundtable (or PWR! for short) – met on Jan. 28 to discuss what issues to prioritize for the coming year and [...]
2021 Beckendorf scholarship for kids of Pierce County union members now open!
The 2021 Jerry Beckendorf Community Services Scholarship application is now open through the Pierce County Labor Council. The intent of this scholarship is to recognize graduating seniors in Pierce County [...]
Virtual legislative sessions underway in WA and OR; PROTEC17 sets four priorities for 2021
The legislative sessions are in full swing in both Washington and Oregon, and they are shaping up to be the most challenging and consequential in many years. The pandemic response [...]
PROTEC17 is growing! Nearly 200 members in 14 new classifications joined in 2020
Despite the pandemic – and in part because of it – PROTEC17 grew its member-powered strength last year, adding nearly 200 members in 14 new classifications to our union. In [...]
Benton-Franklin members fight for higher wages — and win!
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, public health workers have been working long hours in extreme conditions to keep our communities safe. When we surveyed members at the Benton-Franklin Health District (BFHD) [...]