OLYMPIA—Washington Attorney General Nick Brown announced on November 13 the formation of a dedicated Worker Rights Unit within the Attorney General’s Office to enforce the state’s labor laws, address wage theft, and protect workers from exploitation.
“Our office’s new Worker Rights Unit will support working people across Washington as they navigate challenges to maintaining quality jobs amid an affordability crisis,” Attorney General Brown said. “National studies estimate that wage theft costs American workers as much as $50 billion annually. This unit will work to level the playing field and hold accountable employers that violate the law.”
The new unit will focus on upholding Washington’s worker protections—widely regarded as among the strongest in the nation—and supporting low- and moderate-income workers who may be hesitant to file complaints due to fear of retaliation.
Washington’s labor standards include the nation’s second-highest minimum wage, paid overtime requirements for nearly all workers (including agricultural workers), protections against pregnancy discrimination, heat-stress safeguards for outdoor workers, and strong anti-retaliation measures.
The announcement comes as federal labor enforcement has faced significant reductions under the current presidential administration, including staff cuts at the U.S. Department of Labor and scaled-back enforcement of certain wage requirements, the AG’s Office says.
“While federal protections have weakened, Washington is stepping up to fill the gap,” Brown stated.
The Worker Rights Unit will collaborate with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), the Seattle Office of Labor Standards, and other divisions within the Attorney General’s Office that handle worker safety, environmental justice, and civil rights. The unit will prioritize cases involving wage theft and other violations that disproportionately affect women, immigrants, and people of color.
Wage theft takes many forms, including payment below minimum wage, denial of overtime pay, withheld tips, misclassification of employees as independent contractors, and non-payment of wages owed. A recent study highlighted the issue in Washington’s construction sector, estimating annual unpaid wages of approximately $142.6 million due to underground economy practices.
Labor and worker advocacy leaders welcomed the initiative.
“Washington’s labor movement has worked hard to secure strong protections, but laws mean little without enforcement,” said April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council. “Attorney General Brown’s new Worker Rights Unit sends a clear message that workers in our state will have an advocate when employers deny them the wages and rights they have earned.”
Danielle Alvarado, Executive Director of Working Washington, added: “As federal workplace protections are rolled back, this dedicated unit reaffirms Washington’s commitment to a fair economy where every worker’s rights are respected.”
Heather Kurtenbach, Executive Secretary of the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, noted the Attorney General’s Office has been a valuable partner in past enforcement efforts and expressed enthusiasm for expanded collaboration to address wage theft in construction.
The Attorney General’s Office is currently recruiting a Unit Chief to lead the Worker Rights Unit. The position is open to internal and external candidates, with applications due by November 30, 2025.
More than a dozen other state attorneys general operate similar dedicated units for affirmative labor litigation. The Washington unit will also support legislative proposals in the 2026 session aimed at streamlining investigations and adding protections for immigrant workers.
By establishing the Worker Rights Unit, Washington continues its tradition of proactive enforcement of labor standards at a time when federal oversight has diminished.
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Author: Mario Lotmore
