News Briefs

Car washers organize in L.A.

Apr 10, 2008 4:04 PM

The AFL-CIO and the United Steelworkers are helping Southern California’s 18,000 car washers — many undocumented workers — at some 1,000 hand car washes form a union. Conditions are sweatshop-like, yet many workers are so job-scared that “if they fire me, will you pay my salary?” is a common question to organizers.

A recent Los Angeles Times investigation showed many car-wash owners flouting state labor laws, paying workers less than half the minimum wage or insisting that employees work for tips only. Many earn just $40 a day or less for up to 12 hours of work. They said bosses threatened, screamed and otherwise disrespected them.

Owners, frequently immigrants themselves, say their low-cost, low-margin businesses depend on low-wage workers. Otherwise, they might as well mechanize or go out of business.

Organizers are trying to support those ready to start a union while appealing to the consciences of motorists. With the aid of politicians, religious leaders and pickets, they want to persuade motorists to use car washes only if owners have signed pledges to hew to the law. The strategy worked in earlier campaigns involving immigrant janitors, drywallers and home health-care workers in Los Angeles.

“The bosses think you are poor, ignorant, meek immigrants,” one organizer said. “Prove them wrong.”

At one car wash, after the owner was reported to the state Office of Labor Relations, he was forced to pay minimum wage, though he balked at paying for past monies owed. A key union enthusiast at the car wash was soon picked up by immigration and deported to Honduras.

La lucha continua.

Los Angeles Times, March 27