Every employee has a lien upon all the property of that person‘s employer, as against any attachment or execution levied thereon, for the security of the employee’s wages earned within the six months last preceding, to an amount not exceeding $1,000 or five weeks net wages, whichever is greater, subject to a maximum of $3,000. For purposes of this section, “wages” includes payments required to be made to a vacation or health, welfare, or pension fund on behalf of the employee. The lien shall not be affected by any agreement with the employer to waive the lien, and shall be preferred to mortgages, judgments, and other liens which attach after the beginning of the labor or services by which the wages were earned.