Nick Brown for Attorney General – September 2, 2024

Happy Labor Day!

Today, I’m reflecting on my very first job as a teenager at Taco Bell, which taught me the dignity of all work and all workers. Like any teenager, I wanted a little extra money in my pocket, but I quickly realized that for many of my co-workers, this job was how they provided for their families.

Back then, minimum wage was about $4 an hour, and it didn’t take long for me to realize how little that was for the folks around me who were trying to make a living. 

Many of my coworkers were adults in their 20s and 30s who had to work around the clock at multiple jobs to put food on the table. I worked alongside a woman who had to watch how many hours a week she worked so she didn’t lose her welfare benefits. I also worked with an Army service member who took on this job to support her kids — she was serving her country but didn’t have enough money to take care of her family. 

At Taco Bell, I learned how hard it is for low-wage workers to make ends meet and how often they are mistreated. I’ve taken those lessons with me through my career since, and it’s the foundation of my commitment to build a future where all workers are paid a living wage and treated with dignity. 

I’m proud to have earned the endorsement of labor unions across the state, including the Washington State Labor Council and the Washington Education Association PAC. I don’t take these endorsements lightly, nor do I take for granted the support of thousands of workers across the state who have supported my campaign thus far.

As Attorney General, I will stand up to anyone who takes advantage of Washington’s workers, and will always support and defend the rights of workers to organize and bargain.

I hope you enjoy a wonderful Labor Day with your friends and family, Kendall. Thanks for being a part of our team and taking the time to read my story.

— Nick