Living Wage Complaint filed by Los Angeles Carwash Workers

October 9, 2008

Los Angeles, CA - Echo Park workers filed a complaint with the City of Los Angeles alleging the facility of violating the wage ordinance of then city.

Auto Spa Express employees said that the carwash, which has a contract with the city, pays them much less than what is required in the city ordinance.

In a press conference held at the City Hall, the filing of the complaint was announced by labor leaders who are into an effort of unionizing carwash workers for more than year.

These labor leaders said that they were able to see cars being washed at Auto Spa Express, at the corner of Alvarado Street and Sunset Boulevard, and they had wondered if the city ordinance would apply to it.

In his complaint, former Auto Spa Express worker Jose Eduardo Gonzales said that the establishment paid him $56 per 10-12-hour day that he worked, which is in the average of 45.09 an hour—although seven hours at $8 an hour is reflected on his paycheck.

Chloe Osmer of the CLEAN carwash campaign said that it was confirmed by Los Angeles officials that the city has a three-year contract with the carwash and that the payments indeed exceeded $25,000 in 2006, which triggered the living wage law.

This law obliges that workers be given at least $11.25 an hour, said Osmer.

Meanwhile, manager of Auto Spa, Alexandro Herrera said he pays minimum wage to the workers of the said carwash. He was not aware of the complaints pertaining to living wage requirements.