Yesterday at Los Angeles City Hall, members of the Jobs with Justice National Workers’ Rights Board (WRB) were joined by other distinguished guests to hear gripping testimony about the hazards facing car wash workers. Over 250 union and community members packed the room to overflowing to hear from workers, consumer, health and safety advocates, and United Steel Workers President Leo Gerard.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa addressed the panel and the audience, thanking the WRBs’ leadership for protecting workers, and praising the courage of the workers who are speaking out. The Mayor pledged to remain engaged in this fight. “We look forward to reviewing the recommendations from this board for addressing abuses in this industry,” said the Mayor. “It’s important the public understand what’s going on at car washes in Los Angeles.”

Car wash workers reported being paid less than half of California’s $8 an hour minimum wage and some reported they are paid only in tips. Others have faced illegal harassment and threats for attempting to form a union. Car wash legal violations also include underpaying workers, hiring minors, operating without workers’ compensation insurance, and denying workers meal and rest breaks.

Among the workers testifying at the hearing was Aura Lopez, who worked at the Best Way Car Wash. In 2008, she severely injured her back in a fall on the job and was refused proper treatment. “A month after the accident, the owner saw me talking to a union organizer about how to get help for my injuries. The owner then fired me and told me never to come back to the car wash.”

Maria Aide Hernandez, a former cashier at Auto Spa Express, witnessed many of these violations: “I saw my coworkers work for far less than minimum wage for 50-60 hours a week with no overtime pay, I saw workers have accidents because they were not provided with basic safety equipment, and I saw the owner fire or reduce the hours of workers who they suspected of supporting a union.” Ms. Hernandez left the car wash when the owner paid her with bounced checks, leaving her unable to support her two sons.

The testimony highlighted how unionization and collective bargaining would combat abuse and improve conditions in the industry more effectively than piecemeal enforcement by regulatory agencies. According to Ms. Hernandez, “As workers we can’t just rely on filing legal complaints to protect our rights. An individual claim doesn’t stop the car wash from committing the same violations in the future. Car wash workers need a union to protect our rights and improve our working conditions.”

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