High School Students Tackle Worker Safety at Carwashes on Workers Memorial Day
Labor Desk
May 03, 2009
Local Students Donate Safety Equipment to Carwash Workers to Highlight Human Rights Issues.
Los Angeles — Last Tuesday, 12th graders from Wildwood School in Los Angeles joined a diverse group of carwash workers, college students, and members of CLEAN, the Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network, at a gathering in Los Feliz to highlight unsafe working conditions in the carwash industry. Students—who have been studying human rights in school and raised money to purchase safety equipment for workers—presented safety goggles, rubber gloves, and face masks to carwash workers near the Vermont Hand Wash, a business that was recently cited by California OSHA for a variety of serious health and safety violations.
According to Alice Berliner, a 12th grader, "We understand that by providing one carwash with this safety gear, it´s not solving the problem. But, we´re trying to send the message to carwash owners that they need to start paying closer attention to their workers. We also hope to inspire change among students throughout Los Angeles. They need to know that when even one student speaks out, it makes all the difference. When hundreds and thousands of students speak out against human rights abuses, it starts making great change. Student involvement is vital."
Workers in the carwash industry are exposed to toxic chemicals in car cleaning products that are known by the state to cause cancer. Improper exposure to some common carwash products without appropriate protective gear such as gloves, masks, and goggles, can irritate the respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. If inhaled, some products can lead to headaches, convulsions, blindness, or even death. Prolonged exposure to some of the chemicals found in LA carwashes can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, and central nervous system.
"Carwash workers in Los Angeles routinely work without protective equipment, training, and inadequate work policies and procedures, despite the toxic chemicals to which they are constantly exposed in violation of State and Federal health and safety laws," said health and safety expert Jessica Marques of the UCLA Program on Labor Occupational Safety and Health (LOSH).
"Workers shouldn´t have to risk their lives or their health so that Angelenos can get cheap carwashes," Marques added.
According to Henry Huerta of the CLEAN Carwash Campaign, health and safety violations are rampant in the carwash industry as are violations of employment laws. "Many Los Angeles area carwash owners pay workers less than minimum wage, sometimes forcing workers to work for tips only. CLEAN is working to improve safety and other working conditions at carwashes across Los Angeles," said Huerta.
One of the workers at the event, Manuel Zuniga, talked about the conditions at Florence Car Wash. "I was not given any goggles or gloves to wear while using harsh chemicals like acid to clean car rims and I was never trained on how to protect myself from them," said Zuniga.
"It is so great that these young people came out today to support me and my fellow carwasheros. Their commitment inspires us to keep up the fight for justice on the job," continued Zuniga.
Wildwood School students met with a carwash worker and CLEAN representative last February and were inspired to get involved in the human rights campaign for carwash workers. According to Sophia Alan, a 12th grader, "My Human Rights class opened my eyes to violations in Los Angeles that I otherwise may not have known about. I am so grateful for my class, which I consider a sort of ´awakening.´ I now look around my community with a more critical eye regarding human rights."
"I was so moved by the car washer's story because I had never heard of the health and safety violations in the industry, even though their lack of safety gear is visible," Sophia continued.
The event took place near the Vermont Hand Wash. In December 2008, Cal/OSHA cited Vermont Hand Wash for violating a series of health and safety regulations.
Huerta added, "Carwash workers from across LA are part of the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee of the United Steelworkers (CWOC-USW). They have been organizing to improve health and safety and other working conditions in LA carwashes. CLEAN will stand with these workers until carwash employers respect workers´ rights to safe workplaces, fair wages, and to organize a union free from harassment and intimidation."
For more information about the CLEAN Carwash Campaign, visit http://www.CleanCarwashLA.org.
Los Angeles — Last Tuesday, 12th graders from Wildwood School in Los Angeles joined a diverse group of carwash workers, college students, and members of CLEAN, the Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network, at a gathering in Los Feliz to highlight unsafe working conditions in the carwash industry. Students—who have been studying human rights in school and raised money to purchase safety equipment for workers—presented safety goggles, rubber gloves, and face masks to carwash workers near the Vermont Hand Wash, a business that was recently cited by California OSHA for a variety of serious health and safety violations.
According to Alice Berliner, a 12th grader, "We understand that by providing one carwash with this safety gear, it´s not solving the problem. But, we´re trying to send the message to carwash owners that they need to start paying closer attention to their workers. We also hope to inspire change among students throughout Los Angeles. They need to know that when even one student speaks out, it makes all the difference. When hundreds and thousands of students speak out against human rights abuses, it starts making great change. Student involvement is vital."
Workers in the carwash industry are exposed to toxic chemicals in car cleaning products that are known by the state to cause cancer. Improper exposure to some common carwash products without appropriate protective gear such as gloves, masks, and goggles, can irritate the respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. If inhaled, some products can lead to headaches, convulsions, blindness, or even death. Prolonged exposure to some of the chemicals found in LA carwashes can cause damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, and central nervous system.
"Carwash workers in Los Angeles routinely work without protective equipment, training, and inadequate work policies and procedures, despite the toxic chemicals to which they are constantly exposed in violation of State and Federal health and safety laws," said health and safety expert Jessica Marques of the UCLA Program on Labor Occupational Safety and Health (LOSH).
"Workers shouldn´t have to risk their lives or their health so that Angelenos can get cheap carwashes," Marques added.
According to Henry Huerta of the CLEAN Carwash Campaign, health and safety violations are rampant in the carwash industry as are violations of employment laws. "Many Los Angeles area carwash owners pay workers less than minimum wage, sometimes forcing workers to work for tips only. CLEAN is working to improve safety and other working conditions at carwashes across Los Angeles," said Huerta.
One of the workers at the event, Manuel Zuniga, talked about the conditions at Florence Car Wash. "I was not given any goggles or gloves to wear while using harsh chemicals like acid to clean car rims and I was never trained on how to protect myself from them," said Zuniga.
"It is so great that these young people came out today to support me and my fellow carwasheros. Their commitment inspires us to keep up the fight for justice on the job," continued Zuniga.
Wildwood School students met with a carwash worker and CLEAN representative last February and were inspired to get involved in the human rights campaign for carwash workers. According to Sophia Alan, a 12th grader, "My Human Rights class opened my eyes to violations in Los Angeles that I otherwise may not have known about. I am so grateful for my class, which I consider a sort of ´awakening.´ I now look around my community with a more critical eye regarding human rights."
"I was so moved by the car washer's story because I had never heard of the health and safety violations in the industry, even though their lack of safety gear is visible," Sophia continued.
The event took place near the Vermont Hand Wash. In December 2008, Cal/OSHA cited Vermont Hand Wash for violating a series of health and safety regulations.
Huerta added, "Carwash workers from across LA are part of the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee of the United Steelworkers (CWOC-USW). They have been organizing to improve health and safety and other working conditions in LA carwashes. CLEAN will stand with these workers until carwash employers respect workers´ rights to safe workplaces, fair wages, and to organize a union free from harassment and intimidation."
For more information about the CLEAN Carwash Campaign, visit http://www.CleanCarwashLA.org.
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