Car Wash Campaign Seeks Justice

On Tuesday February 10, CLUE LA participated in an exciting press conference as part of our work on the CLEAN Carwash Campaign.  Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo filed criminal charges against the owners and manager of four Los Angeles car washes, accusing them of failure to pay proper wages or allow breaks for their workers. 

The New York Times included the following in its article on the press conference: " 'They did not receive medical care for lacerations and acid burns caused by the machinery and chemicals they used, and the only free drinking water available to them was from a spout used to clean dirty rags,'" said Deputy City Attorney Julia Figueira-McDonough, who worked with federal labor officials on a five-month investigation of the Pirian family’s operations in Hollywood and Los Feliz. Rabbi Linda Bertenthal, a member of the board of CLUE LA and CLUE CA, spoke on behalf of the community, reminding everyone of our faith-rooted obligation to support the carwasheros who are daily risking their lives at these carwashes.  She also urged the community to support the boycott of these particular sites (which you can find in the link to the campaign below).

Due to the courage of the workers and the efforts of the faith community in combination with the broader coalition, the voices of carwasheros are being heard nationally.  Thank you to everyone who has contributed to work on this campaign thus far- you are a critical part of making the carwash industry a safe and just one.

For more on this campaign click here.