About Us
The deck is stacked against Washington workers – but together, we are fighting back.
Washington workers have fought to win some of the strongest labor protections in the nation. But all too often, corporations break those laws and get away with it. The systems that are supposed to hold them accountable are too limited and difficult to navigate. And as the gap between the ultra rich and the rest of us continues to grow, working families struggle more and more to make ends meet.
It can feel like corporations have all the power – but we know it doesn’t have to be this way. When workers take action together to enforce their rights, we build the power to make that vision a reality. And when workers come together to stand up, we stand with them.
Recent wins
Live-in caregivers win labor rights fight in Washington Supreme Court
Domestic workers win real protections in Domestic Worker Bill of Rights
Orchard workers win against discrimination, and get $200,000 for their trouble
Restaurant workers get $850,000 settlement, stand up to bully boss
What we do
Legal services
We represent workers who have come together to hold corporations accountable. We fight to put stolen wages back in workers’ pockets, end harassment and discrimination on the job, and make it easier for workers to speak up.
Community education
We know that the bad actors who exploit workers count on us feeling isolated and alone. We make sure workers know what their rights are and how to enforce them with others facing the same problems.
Systemic advocacy
We champion urgently needed systemic reforms that make our protections stronger, enforcement more effective, and that center workers’ leadership and participation every step of the way.
Our leadership
Danielle Alvarado, Executive Director of Working Washington & Working Washington Rights Center
Danielle has more than 15 years of experience working in movements for racial and economic justice across the country. As Executive Director, she provides leadership on organizational strategy, advocates for public policy that puts workers first, and fosters external partnerships to build worker power in Washington state and beyond. She previously served as our Legal Director, overseeing the Legal Clinic’s efforts to recover $1.5 million in stolen wages and expanding representation of low-wage workers in wage theft, harassment, and retaliation cases.
Previously, Danielle was an Immigrants’ Rights Staff Attorney at Takeroot Justice, where she provided direct representation, policy and technical assistance, and strategic campaign support to grassroots immigrants’ rights organizations and worker centers in New York City. She serves on the Seattle Labor Standards Advisory Commission and is admitted to practice law in Washington and New York.