Labor Union Blog

Hundreds of union members and community activists marched to three Hollywood car washes Saturday to let car wash owners know they will not quit until car wash employees are treated fairly. More than 200 union members, day laborers, students and union and immigrant rights leaders rallied at the Vermont Hand Wash, the flagship location of the Pirian family, which owns up to eight car washes in Los Angeles County.

Launched on Thursday, the Community-Labor-Environmental-Action Network (CLEAN) Carwash Campaign already is showing results. On Saturday, the owner of the Vermont Hand Wash invited representatives into the car wash for an inspection of the facilities. Since the announcement of the CLEAN Carwash Campaign, he has purchased some safety equipment, time clocks and a water cooler. One Vermont Car Wash worker, Pedro Guzman, told the Los Angeles Times many workers were paid $40 a day for more than 10 hours of work. Others got tips only.