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(Los Angeles) Today carwash workers, and community and union members of the Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), rallied at Vermont Hand Wash in support of carwash workers who have been fighting for a voice on the job for more than two and a half years. The event announced the car wash workers’ victory against corporate abuse: the announcement by the City Attorney that two of Los Angeles’ worst carwash owners –brothers Benny and Nissan Pirian-- have each been sentenced to one year in jail. The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education approves a resolution to establish that the District will do business only with carwashes that have pledged to abide by basic laws and respect workers and the environment. Los Angeles – Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa welcomed Cardinal Roger Mahony, along with other religious and community leaders, to a National Workers’ Rights Board hearing today, which featured testimony from carwash workers and others describing widespread worker and environmental abuses in the carwash industry. Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against an L.A. carwash, seeking $630,000 in unpaid wages for workers and over $2 million in penalties for violations of the state's Unfair Competition Law. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law AB 236, a bill to renew the state’s “Carwash Worker Law” and extend it to 2014. This Wednesday evening a candlelit prayer vigil was held by religious leaders and community members of CLEAN to express concern about the safety of workers at carwashes owned by Benny and Nisan Pirian. The United Steelworkers (USW) and the CLEAN Carwash Campaign announced a formal settlement of an unfair labor practice complaint against Vermont Hand Wash. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney joined Congresswoman Chu and hundreds of supporters to rally in support of carwash workers who are fighting to join a union to improve conditions in the industry. California Labor Commissioner files a lawsuit to close carwashes operating illegally, including six in Los Angeles, as state Assembly passes Carwash Worker Law.
Assembly Appropriations Committee passed AB 236, a bill to renew the state’s “Carwash Worker Law.”
Vermont Hand Wash and Hollywood Car Wash Withdraw Cal/OSHA Citations Appeal, Pay $20,000 and agree to health and safety training program.
CLEAN Applauds California Labor Commissioner’s Efforts to Clean Up Carwash Industry, Pirian Family-Owned Carwashes Investigated and Ordered to Discontinue Labor Violations.
Local students donate safety equipment to carwash workers to highlight humans rights issues.
Law would protect vulnerable workers and hold violators accountable in underground carwash industry.
Health and safety experts warn of serious risks to carwash workers of heat illness, toxic exposure, and electrical hazards at Auto Spa Express Car Wash.
176 Counts include conspiracy, grand theft, brandishing deadly weapon. Download LA City Attorney press release.
Health and safety experts warn of serious risks to carwash workers of heat illness and toxic exposure.
National Labor Relations Board files a formal complaint alleging that Vermont Hand Wash engaged in unfair labor practices.
Three workers fired at Vermont Hand Wash after organizing to improve workplace conditions.
California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet announces that 60 employees of the Bruno Scherrer Corporation working at its Hollywood Riviera carwash in Redondo Beach will receive $450,000 in unpaid wages.
Carwash workers announce that their employer should have been paying LA's living wage at carwash with City contract.
Historic resolution urges carwash owners to negotiate with workers.
Health and safety experts warn of serious risks of heat illness and toxics exposure.
Worker organizing to improve conditions threatened with bullets, machete.
Both groups organizing for rights in LA's informal economy.
Carwash announces boycott of LA carwashes.
New report documents rampant worker abuses in the carwash industry. |
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