Attorney General Nick Brown today announced the creation of a Worker Rights Unit to lead the effort to uphold Washington state’s nation-leading worker protections and address wage theft.
“Our office’s new Worker Rights Unit will be able to support the working people of our state, as they face increasing challenges to maintain quality jobs and an affordability crisis,” Brown said. “National studies show that employers steal as much as $50 billion a year from workers. This unit will fight to even the playing field for Washington workers and hold corporations accountable that exploit their workers.”
At the federal level, there has been a systematic dismantling of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and an abandonment of any pretense of protecting workers. The current administration has defanged and defunded enforcement of wage laws, ended enforcement of the minimum wage for federal contractors, and cut 20% of DOL staff. They are giving a green light to bad actors to exploit their workers, but Washington state will step up to fill the gap.
“Washington’s labor movement has fought hard to ensure our state’s laws protect all working people. But laws are only as good as their enforcement. Too often, bad bosses use their power to deny workers their rights,” said Washington State Labor Council President April Sims. “We’re heartened to see Attorney General Nick Brown stand up a unit dedicated to ensuring workers are paid the wage they’ve earned, are able to exercise their rights, and are respected on the job. The hardworking people of Washington deserve nothing less.”
