City Council bill, which would make car washes get a license, comes after accusations of labor law violations
City lawmakers say they hope to clean up New York’s car wash industry — by making operators follow the same licensing rules as tow truck companies, garages and more than 50 other businesses.
“I was actually surprised when I learned that car washes don’t need any license from the city in order to operate,” said City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan).
“It’s just creating these steps to get this industry in line. It’s been demonstrated consistently that car wash operators have been in violation of labor laws.”
On Wednesday, Mark-Viverito plans to introduce the Car Wash Accountability Act, which would require all city washes to get a yearly license from the city Consumer Affairs Department.
The penalty for operating without a license would be $200 a day, maxing out at $15,000.
In order to be licensed, car wash operators would have to share details of ownership, show they comply with city, state and federal laws and get a bond to cover any unpaid fines or damages.
“This is an industry that seems to have a remarkable capacity to violate the law,” said Deborah Axt of Make the Road New York.
She said a licensing bill would be a good first step.
“It seems like a no-brainer to us,” Axt said.
Immigrant workers have been speaking out about low pay and harsh conditions at local car washes as part of a campaign by Axt’s group and New York Communities for Change.
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union is also trying to organize the workers.
*Taxi Workers Alliance, Machinists Union call upon drivers to boycott carwashes where workers are being abused*
At a press conference this afternoon at the Westside Highway Car Wash, New York City taxi workers and black car drivers announced that they are helping the WASH New York campaign to pressure car wash owners to improve conditions in an industry plagued by rampant wage and hour violations, and unsafe working conditions. The drivers were joined by car wash workers, as well as community activists and union leaders.
“We are proud to offer our help and support to WASH NY and to stand with the car wash workers in their struggle for just and fair working conditions. Taxi workers know firsthand the great value of car wash workers’ labor and understand all too well their struggle for justice and rights. We call upon all taxi drivers to boycott carwashes where workers are being abused and instead to rely on those where workers’ rights are respected,” said Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director of the 15,000-member New York Taxi Workers Alliance.
“Just like the black car drivers, workers in the carwash industry are recent immigrants. And their employers think they can take advantage of them. We pledge today to inform the drivers we represent that they should avoid using carwashes identified by WASH NY as places where workers are abused. And we will also encourage drivers to use carwashes where employers have agreed to do the right thing,” said Jim Conigliaro, Directing Business Representative of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 15, which represents black car drivers throughout the city.
“We are proud to be here with representatives of the Taxi Workers Alliance and the Machinists Union who represent New York’s black car drivers. They have made the choice to stand up, speak out and act on behalf of the carwash workers. What a powerful statement their support means. Tens of thousands of drivers in this city will be hearing from their representatives about this campaign – about the terrible conditions workers face,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU, UFCW).
“We decided to join this campaign because we want to be paid a decent salary, we want protection from the chemicals we use on the job, and we want to be treated with dignity,” said Asai Nicolas Flores who works at the LMC car wash in Astoria.
“We want to thank the taxi drivers and the black car drivers for their support. We are already united as car wash workers and with their support, now our campaign is even stronger,” said Julian Cruz, who works at the LMC in East Harlem.
*Taxi Workers Alliance, Machinists Union call upon drivers to boycott carwashes where workers are being abused *
April 11, NOON, Westside Highway Car Wash, 638 West 47th Street, New York, NY
WHAT: New York City taxi workers and black car drivers are helping the WASH NY campaign being conducted by Make the Road New York and New York Communities for Change to pressure car wash owners to improve conditions in an industry plagued by rampant wage and hour violations, and unsafe working conditions. The drivers will be joined by car wash workers, as well as community activists and union leaders. Workers will be available for interviews and English translation will be provided.
WHO:
Bhairavi Desai, Executive Director, New York City Taxi Workers Alliance;
Jim Conigliaro, Directing Business Representative, International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 15;
Stuart Appelbaum, President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU, UFCW);
Car wash workers, community activists, and representatives of WASH New York.
WHERE: Westside Highway Car Wash, 638 West 47th Street, New York, NY
WHEN: Wednesday, April 11, NOON.
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio wants city agencies to stop spending money at a car wash company that he says has a history of mistreating its workers.
In a letter sent to Mayor Bloomberg, de Blasio said the city has spent more than $170,000 with Lage Management Corporation since 2010.
The company operates car washes across the city and was recently protested by workers who said they earned below minimum wage.
De Blasio says many of them work long hours, get no overtime pay and are never offered sick leave or health benefits despite working around dangerous chemicals.
In a release, he says, “It’s better to have a dirty car than a dirty conscience. Taxpayer dollars should never enrich a company that steals from working people.”
The mayor’s office says it is looking into the matter.
City paid Lage Management Corp. $170G for cleanings despite investigation alleging it cheated workers out of wages
City agencies are spending big money prettying up official vehicles at a car wash empire that is currently being investigated for alleged dirty labor practices, the Daily News has learned.
The city has paid Lage Management Corp. more than $170,000 for car cleanings since 2010, including $12,207 in the last three months, says Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who wants the business relationship to stop.
“It’s better to have a dirty car than a dirty conscience,” argued de Blasio, who has written to Mayor Bloomberg to demand an immediate end to city use of dozens of Lage car washes in the five boroughs.
Pro-labor coalition calls out employers who discourage organizing among workers
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Sutphin Blvd. Car Wash in Jamaica, the tour’s third stop, was called out for alleged mistreatment of workers in March in a report commissioned by WASH New York, a coalition of labor and community groups.
Sutphin is part of a chain of car washes operated by Fernando Magalhaes, who was subpoenaed earlier this month by state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for wage and hour violations, and unsafe working conditions. Read more.
Media Contacts:
Hilary Klein (Spanish/English). hilary.klein@maketheroadny.org. 347.423.8277
Olivia Leirer. oleirer@nycommunities.org. 646.479.3426
Car Wash Workers Demand Better Treatment, Condemn Retaliations at a Dirty Car Wash in Queens Under Investigation by the NY Attorney General’s Office
*Escalation of Car Wash Workers’ Campaign, Following AG Car Wash Probe, Revelations of Mistreatment and Abuse*
March 29, 10 a.m., Sutphin Car Wash, 9731 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens
WHAT: Car wash workers will confront managers at the Sutphin Car Wash in Jamaica, Queens, and demand better treatment and condemn recent retaliations from management, which have included reduced hours and verbal threats. Sutphin Car Wash is part of a chain of car washes operated by Fernando Magalhaes, who was subpoened earlier this month by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman following revelations of wage and hour violations, and unsafe working conditions. Car wash workers will be joined by community activists and elected officials in this direct action. Workers will be available for interviews and English translation will be provided.
WHO: Car wash workers, community activists, City Councilman James Sanders, and representatives of WASH New York.
WHERE: Sutphin Car Wash, 9731 Sutphin Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens
WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 10.a.m.
TRANSPORTATION: Take the E/J/Z to Sutphin Blvd.
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About WASH New York: Workers Aligned for a Sustainable and Healthy New York
WASH New York is a campaign fighting for greater workplace justice, health, and safety in New York City’s car wash industry. To learn more, visit www.washnewyork.org and connect with the campaign on Tumblr, Twitter, and Facebook for the latest news, updates, and calls to action.
Nicolas claims unfair wages and abuse at LMC Car Wash in Queens
For a decade, he’s toiled 12 hours a day for meager pay, polishing cars to a gleam with harsh chemicals that make his nose bleed.
Because he’s in the country illegally, like many of his co-workers, he was afraid to complain.
But no longer.
Mexican immigrant Adan Nicolas says he wants New Yorkers to know the anonymous army that keeps their SUVs shiny is being mistreated.
“We need a fair wage — and for them to pay up and stop stealing from us, and abusing us as workers,” said Nicolas, 32, who works at LMC Car Wash in Astoria, Queens. Read more.
Exclusive: Workers claim bizman pays employees $5.50 per hour - $1.75 less than legal minimum
The state is investigating whether New York City’s car-wash kingpin has financed a life of luxury by cheating workers out of wages, the Daily News has learned.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman last week slapped a subpoena on John Lage, who is linked to more than a dozen car washes and lives in a $900,000 lakefront house in Westchester.
Workers claim that the car washes pay $5.50 an hour — $1.75 less than the legal minimum — plus a pittance in tips. They don’t make overtime and complain about harsh working conditions. Read more.
Car wash workers, one of the most exploited of the low-wage worker groups have had enough of their wage and hour violations, and the unsafe working conditions at Sutphin Car Wash in Jamaica, Queens, LMC Car Wash in East Harlem, and other car washes across the city. Now car wash workers members of WASH New York and community activists are demanding an end to these conditions, the harassment of the workers and the retaliation they are experiencing as they launch a campaign to improve workplace standards and conditions in the car wash industry. Listen to the full broadcast with Rocio Valerio, Organizer, New York Communities for Change and Antonio Flores, Car Wash Worker , Member of WASH New York.
