Organized Labor Targets Carwashes

On the heels of a recent post wondering what the heck unions are doing to organize workers who are surely bummed about the state of their employment in these tough economic times, it comes to light that organized labor is trying hard to unionize workers at carwashes in Los Angeles. Before you ridicule this effort, consider a few facts.

There are 500 carwashes in LA with thousands of employees. Unions believe that many of  the carwashes routinely violate wage and hour laws. Moreover, it’s estimated that 10,000 carwash workers are illegal immigrants. While carwashes would still appear to be an unlikely target for labor, this campaign actually fits with organized labor’s plan to increasingly unionize low-wage service workers  — car washers, janitors, nursing home aides, security guards and pharmacy clerks.

While no carwashers have been organized yet, the unions’ campaign is having an impact. LA officials pursued two carwash owners heavily targeted for unionization for 220 wage misdeanors. When they were sentenced to a year in jail and ordered to pay $1.24 million to underpaid workers, all carwash owners began to pay attention to the unions’ efforts.

What’s more, the unions have been joined by foundations (like the Ford Foundation) and the LA clergy in protesting carwashers’ working  conditions. Perhaps the most compelling reason for carwashes to play ball with organized labor is that many Californians get their cars washed every week. It’s as important as one’s personal appearance.

Unions admit they’re in an uphill fight. None of the illegal immigrants will come forward for fear of being deported. Legal employees also fear retribution at a time when jobs are hard to come by. Opponents of the union make the standard argument that unionization will drive the carwashes out of business. That argument probably carries a little more weight in LA. As one opponent said,  “Everyone in LA  will have to wash their own car.”