California Carwash Workers Need Help

Carwash workers need your help! This week, A.B. 236, a bill to renew the California Carwash Worker Law, will be heard on the State Assembly floor. The law will expire Dec. 31, 2009, unless it is renewed by the legislature.

Please take a second to contact your State Assembly member and urge them to vote YES to reauthorize the Carwash Worker Law.

Talking Points

Abuses in the carwash industry are severe and widespread. Carwash workers have reported being paid $35 to $40 for a 10-hour day, and some are paid only in tips. Many workers endure dangerous working conditions, including exposure to toxic chemicals without proper protective gear.

If fully implemented, the Carwash Worker Law will provide strong protections and remedies for carwash workers who are exploited by unscrupulous employers. It also will bring in much-needed funds for the state during a time of budget crisis and ensure that responsible businesses are not put at a disadvantage for following the law.

Subject:

Dear [Decision Maker],

(Edit Letter Below)

This week, A.B. 236, a bill to reauthorize the California Carwash Worker Law, will be heard on the State Assembly floor. The law protects workers, brings in much-needed funds for the state and ensures that responsible businesses are not at a disadvantage for following the law.

With the initial passage of the Carwash Worker Law in 2003, the legislature acknowledged that existing laws did not adequately protect some of the state's most vulnerable low-wage workers. In March 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported that two-thirds of carwashes inspected by the state's labor department since 2003 were out of compliance with one or more labor laws and that many carwash employers pay less than half of the required minimum wage.

Workers have reported being paid $35 to $40 for a 10-hour day, and some are paid only in tips. Many workers endure dangerous working conditions, including exposure to toxic chemicals without proper protective gear.

The Carwash Worker Law requires all carwashes to register with the state, enabling the state to prevent employers who have violated labor laws in the past from continuing to do so. It also requires carwash employers to purchase a surety bond and contribute to the Carwash Worker Restitution Fund, both of which provide workers with a means to collect wages if an employer is unwilling or unable to pay. The law is self-funded through the carwash registration fee and through civil fines for failure to register.

In a period of severe budget crisis, the Carwash Worker Law has generated additional funding for the state. The cost of implementing the law for the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) is estimated at about $650,000. In 2007 and 2008, the DLSE assessed $10.6 million in fines against carwash owners for violating employment laws, including $5.9 million in fines for nonregistration.

The Carwash Worker Law has helped to increase enforcement, but in order to clean up this largely underground industry, the law must be extended and better enforced. Nearly 50 organizations have expressed their support for A.B. 236. I strongly urge you to vote YES on A.B. 236 when it comes before you.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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