LA City Council Votes Unanimously for Resolution Supporting Carwash Workers
Labor Desk
July 30, 2008
Historic Resolution Urges Carwash Owners to Negotiate with Workers.
Los Angeles - Today L.A. City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution in support of the efforts of workers and their supporters to improve conditions in the carwash industry. Members of the Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network (or CLEAN Carwash Campaign), a coalition of community, religious, and labor organizations, rallied on the steps of City Hall before the vote to urge City Council to support the resolution.
Introduced by Councilman Ed Reyes and co-authored by City Council President Eric Garcetti, the resolution strongly endorses the efforts of the CLEAN Campaign to defend the rights of carwash workers to just wages, safe working conditions, and the freedom to organize a union. It also notes that carwashes have been cited for violations of environmental laws, and calls for owners to comply with employment, health and safety, and environmental laws.
According to Councilman Ed Reyes, "The resolution asks the city to investigate whether or not we contract with any outside carwash companies and if so recommends that we re-evaluate those relationships."
In recent months, carwash workers have formed the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee of the United Steelworkers (CWOC - USW). The workers are organizing to improve conditions in carwashes. In its March exposé of the carwash industry, the L.A. Times reported that some carwash workers are paid wages as low $1.63 an hour and lack protection from hazardous chemicals. Many carwashes have been cited for violating child labor law, paying less than minimum wage, or failing to provide workers with health and safety protection.
Mayor Villaraigosa also voiced support for the resolution's passage, saying "I commend the City Council for passing a Carwash Resolution today that recognizes our workers' rights to have a voice in the workplace. Supporting this right is the first step to assuring that all Angelenos have access to decent wages and fair working conditions."
In testimony to City Council before the vote, CLEAN coalition allies expressed concern that the owners are avoiding their legal obligation to pay a living wage under the City's Living Wage Ordinance. The city has contracts with several carwashes, including Auto Spa Express, Inc. (dba Car Wash on Sunset), located at the corner of Sunset and Alvarado, which was the target of a picket by carwash workers and the CLEAN coalition last Friday afternoon.
Madeline Janis, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), said, "Under the City's Living Wage Ordinances, companies doing business with the City are required to pay a living wage. We urge the City Council to pass the Resolution, and to launch an investigation into City contracts with carwashes to ensure that carwash workers are being paid what they deserve."
Council President Eric Garcetti explained why he decided to co-author the resolution, saying, "We want to make sure that carwash employees are treated fairly and earn the wages and benefits they deserve. We'll continue working to ensure that those who work hard are able to support their families and have safe work environments."
Marycruz Garcia, a carwash worker at Vermont Hand Wash, describing the conditions in the carwash where she works. "One of the most difficult things about working in the carwash is the sexual harassment. The managers sometimes make sexual comments or try to touch me. If we complain they say we're doing men's work and that we should look for work somewhere else," said Garcia. "It's also really hard because we make so little money. Managers have cut the hours of many workers who want to organize a union, said Garcia, "so it's hard to live on what we make, let alone support my kids."
Carwash workers have also alleged serious health and safety violations at two Los Angeles carwashes owned by members of the Pirian family. Workers who are part of CWOC-USW filed complaints last week with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health that detail worker exposure to toxic chemicals in car cleaning products known by the state to cause cancer. Workers reported receiving no training and frequently lacked basic protective equipment for using the chemicals. Prolonged exposure to some of the chemicals found in LA carwashes can cause liver, kidney and heart, and central nervous system damage.
Maria Elena Durazo, Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, has warned of the health concerns faced by carwash workers, saying, "These workers are laboring in the intense sun without breaks and access to shade and water – the same conditions that have taken the lives of farm workers in the Central Valley." Durazo gave testimony at today's hearing urging the City Council to pass today's resolution.
According to charges filed earlier this month by CWOC-USW, management at Vermont Hand Wash has coerced, threatened, and retaliated against employees for trying to organize a union. A charge filed on July 15 alleges that a manager threatened one union supporter with physical violence when he showed the worker .38 caliber bullets on one occasion in April and a machete and combat knife on another occasion in June.
The Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), a coalition of community, labor, and faith-based organizations, called for a boycott of six Pirian family-owned carwashes in April because of a history of serious employment, health and safety, and environmental law violations at some Pirian family-owned carwashes. The carwashes include Vermont Hand Wash at 1666 North Vermont Avenue, Hollywood Car Wash at 6200 Sunset Blvd., and Celebrity Car Wash at 901 Vine St.
Los Angeles - Today L.A. City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution in support of the efforts of workers and their supporters to improve conditions in the carwash industry. Members of the Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network (or CLEAN Carwash Campaign), a coalition of community, religious, and labor organizations, rallied on the steps of City Hall before the vote to urge City Council to support the resolution.
Introduced by Councilman Ed Reyes and co-authored by City Council President Eric Garcetti, the resolution strongly endorses the efforts of the CLEAN Campaign to defend the rights of carwash workers to just wages, safe working conditions, and the freedom to organize a union. It also notes that carwashes have been cited for violations of environmental laws, and calls for owners to comply with employment, health and safety, and environmental laws.
According to Councilman Ed Reyes, "The resolution asks the city to investigate whether or not we contract with any outside carwash companies and if so recommends that we re-evaluate those relationships."
In recent months, carwash workers have formed the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee of the United Steelworkers (CWOC - USW). The workers are organizing to improve conditions in carwashes. In its March exposé of the carwash industry, the L.A. Times reported that some carwash workers are paid wages as low $1.63 an hour and lack protection from hazardous chemicals. Many carwashes have been cited for violating child labor law, paying less than minimum wage, or failing to provide workers with health and safety protection.
Mayor Villaraigosa also voiced support for the resolution's passage, saying "I commend the City Council for passing a Carwash Resolution today that recognizes our workers' rights to have a voice in the workplace. Supporting this right is the first step to assuring that all Angelenos have access to decent wages and fair working conditions."
In testimony to City Council before the vote, CLEAN coalition allies expressed concern that the owners are avoiding their legal obligation to pay a living wage under the City's Living Wage Ordinance. The city has contracts with several carwashes, including Auto Spa Express, Inc. (dba Car Wash on Sunset), located at the corner of Sunset and Alvarado, which was the target of a picket by carwash workers and the CLEAN coalition last Friday afternoon.
Madeline Janis, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), said, "Under the City's Living Wage Ordinances, companies doing business with the City are required to pay a living wage. We urge the City Council to pass the Resolution, and to launch an investigation into City contracts with carwashes to ensure that carwash workers are being paid what they deserve."
Council President Eric Garcetti explained why he decided to co-author the resolution, saying, "We want to make sure that carwash employees are treated fairly and earn the wages and benefits they deserve. We'll continue working to ensure that those who work hard are able to support their families and have safe work environments."
Marycruz Garcia, a carwash worker at Vermont Hand Wash, describing the conditions in the carwash where she works. "One of the most difficult things about working in the carwash is the sexual harassment. The managers sometimes make sexual comments or try to touch me. If we complain they say we're doing men's work and that we should look for work somewhere else," said Garcia. "It's also really hard because we make so little money. Managers have cut the hours of many workers who want to organize a union, said Garcia, "so it's hard to live on what we make, let alone support my kids."
Carwash workers have also alleged serious health and safety violations at two Los Angeles carwashes owned by members of the Pirian family. Workers who are part of CWOC-USW filed complaints last week with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health that detail worker exposure to toxic chemicals in car cleaning products known by the state to cause cancer. Workers reported receiving no training and frequently lacked basic protective equipment for using the chemicals. Prolonged exposure to some of the chemicals found in LA carwashes can cause liver, kidney and heart, and central nervous system damage.
Maria Elena Durazo, Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, has warned of the health concerns faced by carwash workers, saying, "These workers are laboring in the intense sun without breaks and access to shade and water – the same conditions that have taken the lives of farm workers in the Central Valley." Durazo gave testimony at today's hearing urging the City Council to pass today's resolution.
According to charges filed earlier this month by CWOC-USW, management at Vermont Hand Wash has coerced, threatened, and retaliated against employees for trying to organize a union. A charge filed on July 15 alleges that a manager threatened one union supporter with physical violence when he showed the worker .38 caliber bullets on one occasion in April and a machete and combat knife on another occasion in June.
The Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), a coalition of community, labor, and faith-based organizations, called for a boycott of six Pirian family-owned carwashes in April because of a history of serious employment, health and safety, and environmental law violations at some Pirian family-owned carwashes. The carwashes include Vermont Hand Wash at 1666 North Vermont Avenue, Hollywood Car Wash at 6200 Sunset Blvd., and Celebrity Car Wash at 901 Vine St.
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