Washington

Federal weekly rule only (1.5x over 40 hrs/week)

Federal law is the floor everywhere: 1.5x your regular rate for every hour past 40 in a workweek. Where state law pays more, the state rule wins.

Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries

File a wage claim

360-902-5316

Federal option: US DOL Wage and Hour complaint · 1-866-487-9243

Washington is not a right-to-work state. Where a union contract includes a union security clause, covered workers can be required to pay dues or a fair-share fee (public-sector workers are exempt under Janus).

Private-sector organizing is governed by the National Labor Relations Act and enforced by the NLRB. Public employees (state, city, school, transit) are covered by Washington state law instead, which sets its own bargaining rules.

It is illegal for your employer to fire, cut hours, or threaten you for talking with coworkers about pay or organizing.

• Washington State Labor Council
• Start a union at your workplace (AFL-CIO)
• Your NLRB regional office
• File an unfair labor practice charge
• All state labor federations