Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17)

What Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17) does

Professional and Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17) is an independent, member-governed labor union founded in 1918 in Seattle, Washington, representing approximately 10,000 professional and technical public-sector employees across Washington and Oregon through 20 chapters. The organization is a nonprofit, Washington-incorporated entity structured as an exclusive bargaining representative under state public-sector collective bargaining law, and it operates without any parent company, external investors, or venture capital. Members work in cities (Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, Mount Vernon), counties (King, Pierce, Clark, Spokane, Kitsap, Skagit, Snohomish), Washington State agencies (WSDOT, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing), public health districts, Sound Transit, and the Port of Seattle, covering classifications including engineers, IT professionals, planners, licensing services representatives, public health staff, transit workers, and administrative professionals.

PROTEC17's revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues set at 0.85% of gross earnings — which it characterizes as one of the lowest dues rates in the Pacific Northwest — with no initiation fee and any dues increase requiring a member-wide vote. A secondary revenue stream consists of voluntary member contributions to a Political Action Committee (PAC), funded via optional payroll deductions at amounts of $7, $17, $27, $37, or $47 per paycheck and kept structurally separate from dues. The union's technology footprint is intentionally minimal: a WordPress-based public website (protec17.org), a member portal (members.protec17.org), standard union management systems, and digital communications infrastructure, with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary platform, or public-facing API.

The organization's service portfolio combines traditional representation (collective bargaining, grievance and arbitration support, contract enforcement) with member benefits — a $10,000 annual Professional Development Fund (awards up to $200 per member), two $5,000 scholarships per year, a Working Advantage discount program, an award-winning quarterly Insight Magazine, steward and leadership training, Contract Action Teams, and affinity groups such as the Young Members of PROTEC17 (YMP) and the Neurodivergent Member Leader Group. In January 2026 the union launched its first physical and digital membership cards with unique IDs and barcodes to support electronic voting and event scanning. Distribution is conducted through dedicated union representatives assigned to specific employer accounts, chapter meetings, the member portal, and member-driven organizing.

Name

Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17)

Legal name

Professional and Technical Employees Local 17

Website

https://protec17.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PROTEC17 is an independent, member-governed labor union representing nearly 10,000 professional and technical public-sector employees across Washington and Oregon through 20 chapters. Founded in 1918, it provides collective bargaining, advocacy, and member benefits funded by recurring dues at 0.85% of gross earnings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Ongoing membership dues at 0.85% of gross earnings. No initiation fee. Dues are used for contract negotiations, enforcement, research, communications, and other member support activities. Budget overseen and approved by members.
2. Political Action Committee (PAC) Contributions: Voluntary member donations to PAC fund that supports worker-friendly candidates. Separate from dues - dues money never used for political candidate endorsements. Members can authorize payroll deductions of $7, $17, $27, $37, $47 per paycheck or other amounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

PROTEC17 is a member-powered labor union that provides collective bargaining representation, contract negotiation, and grievance/arbitration support to professional and technical public sector employees across Washington and Oregon. The union also delivers member benefit programs including a Professional Development Fund, scholarship program, member discount program, political advocacy via a Political Action Committee and Workers' Roundtable, and quarterly Insight Magazine publication. Membership is open to public sector workers and dues are set at 0.85% of gross earnings via payroll deduction.

Product overview

PROTEC17 is a member-powered labor union offering a unified platform of services for public sector professionals in Washington and Oregon. The organization provides core representation services through collective bargaining, political advocacy via its Workers' Roundtable and PAC, and member support programs including a scholarship program, professional development fund (up to $200 per member), and Working Advantage discount program. Additional services include quarterly Insight Magazine publication, COVID-19 resource hub, steward and leadership training, contract action teams, and the Young Members of PROTEC17 group for members 35 and under. The union recently launched its first physical and digital membership card system in January 2026, enabling improved electronic voting and event scanning capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PROTEC17 Scholarship Program Annual scholarship program awarding two $5,000 scholarships (one for first-year students, one for continuing students) to the child, grandchild, or dependent of an active PROTEC17 member pursuing education beyond high school at a college, university, or technical institute.
• Professional Development Fund Annual $10,000 fund available on a first-come, first-served basis for individual PROTEC17 members seeking monetary resources for job-related continuing education opportunities such as seminars, classes, workshops, or conferences, with individual awards up to $200 per member.
• Member Discount Program Partnership with Working Advantage offering dues-paying PROTEC17 members special access to discounts on travel, tickets, dining, shopping, services, and more through thousands of partnered vendors. Participation is optional on an opt-in basis.
• Membership Identification Cards Wallet-sized physical and digital union membership cards containing member name, join year, unique union member ID number, and corresponding barcode, enabling improved electronic voting and scanning into PROTEC17 meetings and events.
• Political Action Committee (PAC) Voluntary member-funded Political Action Committee that supports worker-friendly, labor-friendly, and public employee-friendly candidates in Washington State, funded through voluntary payroll deduction donations separate from union dues.
• PROTEC17 Workers' Roundtable (PWR) Member-led political action workgroup that advocates for laws and policies at city, county, and state levels supporting PROTEC17 members and makes endorsements for worker-friendly candidates after interviewing candidates about their worker-centered values.
• Member Portal Online member portal at members.protec17.org providing dues-paying members with access to member-only resources, event information, professional development applications, and the digital membership card. Login required.
• Insight Magazine Award-winning quarterly publication highlighting the work and lives of PROTEC17 members, featuring a variety of professions and people, published in print and PDF formats.

Quantifiable outcome

• $10,000 annual Professional Development Fund with awards up to $200 per member
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State Labor Council (WSLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSLC is one of the most effective and proactive Labor Councils in the nation. Membership provides access to legislative advocacy programs, model policies (minimum wage, paid sick leave, paid family leave, overtime protections), dislocated worker training, apprenticeships, and workers' compensation assistance. WSLC publishes the award-winning online labor newspaper The Stand. Being part of WSLC strengthens PROTEC17 through collective action.
• Foundation for Working FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit organization established by WSLC AFL-CIO and affiliates to assist union families in Washington state during times of hardship or disaster. Has provided cash assistance to thousands of families affected by flooding, wildfires, and other extraordinary circumstances.
• Working AdvantageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to offer PROTEC17 members special access to discounts on travel, tickets, dining, shopping, services, and more. Working Advantage has partnered with many unions and organizations to offer thousands of discounts. Participation is optional and on an opt-in basis - no member information shared.
• CarinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit technology organization connecting qualified unionized child care and home care workers to those who need care. A project of SEIU775 and other labor, community, and government organizations, Carina aims to provide caregivers with good wages, benefits, and union representation while providing families with quality care. PROTEC17 members can use this service.
• MLK LaborcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLK Labor is a central labor council in the Seattle area. PROTEC17 participates in MLK Labor events, co-hosts trainings (including on Gaza violence), and has passed resolutions through MLK Labor. PROTEC17 received Best Rally award at MLK Labor Oscars 2024.
• Native Land DigitalminorOthersResource organization providing maps and information about Indigenous territories and tribal communities. PROTEC17 uses their map on the Land Acknowledgment page to acknowledge Indigenous peoples as traditional stewards of the land.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Federation of Teachers (AFT): National union representing public sector professionals including educators, healthcare professionals, and government employees. Direct peer in the public sector professional representation space — overlapping mission and member demographic with PROTEC17's professional/technical classification focus.
• AFSCME Council 75 (Oregon): Represents Oregon state, county, and local public employees. Direct counterpart in Oregon to PROTEC17's Oregon chapter presence — both compete for and represent overlapping public sector professional and technical classifications across state and local agencies.
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE): National/international union specifically organizing professional and technical engineers, architects, and scientific workers — closely aligned with PROTEC17's original core membership base. PROTEC17's former international parent (disaffiliated 2011), serving as a structural reference point for peer comparison in scale and scope.
• Oregon Public Employees Union (OPEU) / SEIU Local 503: Represents Oregon state and public sector employees across multiple classifications. Direct Oregon-based peer to PROTEC17's Portland Chapter and broader Oregon footprint — competing for representation of the same Oregon public sector workforce.
• Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) / OFC Local 443: Represents Washington state government employees, including professional, administrative, and technical classifications. Overlaps directly with PROTEC17's WSDOT, Department of Licensing, and other state agency chapters as a competing union in the same Washington state bargaining pool.
• AFSCME Council 28 (Washington): Represents Washington state, county, and municipal public employees across a wide range of classifications. Most direct local-level peer to PROTEC17 in Washington — competing for the same pool of public sector bargaining units and members in overlapping jurisdictions (City of Seattle, King County, WSDOT).

Broad incumbents

• AFSCME International: National parent of public sector unions including AFSCME Council 28 and Council 75 — the dominant national public sector union. Competes with PROTEC17 in the same Washington and Oregon public sector space but with significantly broader scope (including blue-collar and clerical) and greater resources.
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU): National union with significant public sector membership across healthcare, state, and local government. Competes with PROTEC17 in adjacent public sector classifications and partners with it via the Carina caregiving initiative.
• National Education Association (NEA): Largest U.S. labor union, focused primarily on educators but with broader public sector professional reach. Adjacent to PROTEC17 in representing public sector professionals, with greater scale and national footprint.

Others

• Washington State Labor Council (WSLC): State-level labor council affiliated with the AFL-CIO, coordinating labor unions in Washington state. Existing strategic partner of PROTEC17 — not a direct union competitor but a central player in the same Pacific Northwest labor ecosystem for legislative advocacy and collective action.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protec17

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Professional & Technical Employees Local 17 (PROTEC17)