Religious Community Holds Vigil for Fired Carwash Workers
Labor Desk
November 20, 2008
Three Workers Fired at Vermont Hand Wash After Organizing to Improve Workplace Conditions.
LOS ANGELES — Today, religious leaders and community members held a vigil for carwash workers who support a union at Vermont Hand Wash and have recently been fired by their employer. Faith leaders read from sacred texts, offered prayers for change, and blessed the workers. During the vigil a delegation of religious leaders met with the owners of the carwash to call for an end to harassment of workers and for the reinstatement of the recently fired workers.
"The community will not stand idly by as carwash owners intimidate, harass, and fire workers. As people of faith we call upon the owners to do what is legal, moral, and just," said Rabbi Alison Abrams of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE).
The delegation also delivered a letter signed by Los Angeles area religious leaders. According to the letter, the leaders "urge the owners of Vermont Hand Wash to sign the CLEAN Carwash Agreement, thereby committing to obey all employment and health and safety laws and to respect workers´ right to organize. We call upon them to soften their hearts and unite with their employees to lift up the entire carwash industry."
Rabbi Jonathan Klein with the Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA) told those that attended the vigil, "The Progressive Jewish Alliance proudly stands together with carwash workers, knowing that their struggle is part of our struggle for justice: ´Justice, justice, shall you pursue.´"
Since workers began publicly organizing the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee (CWOC) of the United Steelworkers last March, Vermont Hand Wash has fired three workers who support the union and efforts to clean up the industry. Vermont Hand Wash is one of several carwashes owned by Benny Pirian or members of his family. Pirian family-owned carwashes have been cited for violating employment, health and safety, and environmental laws, including not paying minimum wage, failing to provide workers with protective equipment while working with toxic chemicals, and dumping carwash wastewater into storm drains.
On November 8, Vermont Hand Wash fired Israel Jimenez, a worker who had provided an affidavit in support of unfair labor practice charges that are pending before the National Labor Relations Board. The charges allege, among other acts, that a manager threatened him with bullets and a machete.
On October 12, Vermont Hand Wash fired Bosbely Reyna, a worker who has actively spoken out about the working conditions at Vermont Hand Wash. Reyna is also a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed by workers of the carwash against the owners for not paying us minimum wage or overtime pay, and not allowing us to take meal and rest breaks. Both of the recently fired workers had reported dangerous working conditions at the carwash to Cal/OSHA.
In April, a carwash worker at Vermont Hand Wash was fired after being quoted about the deplorable conditions at the carwash in the Los Angeles Times.
LOS ANGELES — Today, religious leaders and community members held a vigil for carwash workers who support a union at Vermont Hand Wash and have recently been fired by their employer. Faith leaders read from sacred texts, offered prayers for change, and blessed the workers. During the vigil a delegation of religious leaders met with the owners of the carwash to call for an end to harassment of workers and for the reinstatement of the recently fired workers.
"The community will not stand idly by as carwash owners intimidate, harass, and fire workers. As people of faith we call upon the owners to do what is legal, moral, and just," said Rabbi Alison Abrams of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE).
The delegation also delivered a letter signed by Los Angeles area religious leaders. According to the letter, the leaders "urge the owners of Vermont Hand Wash to sign the CLEAN Carwash Agreement, thereby committing to obey all employment and health and safety laws and to respect workers´ right to organize. We call upon them to soften their hearts and unite with their employees to lift up the entire carwash industry."
Rabbi Jonathan Klein with the Progressive Jewish Alliance (PJA) told those that attended the vigil, "The Progressive Jewish Alliance proudly stands together with carwash workers, knowing that their struggle is part of our struggle for justice: ´Justice, justice, shall you pursue.´"
Since workers began publicly organizing the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee (CWOC) of the United Steelworkers last March, Vermont Hand Wash has fired three workers who support the union and efforts to clean up the industry. Vermont Hand Wash is one of several carwashes owned by Benny Pirian or members of his family. Pirian family-owned carwashes have been cited for violating employment, health and safety, and environmental laws, including not paying minimum wage, failing to provide workers with protective equipment while working with toxic chemicals, and dumping carwash wastewater into storm drains.
On November 8, Vermont Hand Wash fired Israel Jimenez, a worker who had provided an affidavit in support of unfair labor practice charges that are pending before the National Labor Relations Board. The charges allege, among other acts, that a manager threatened him with bullets and a machete.
On October 12, Vermont Hand Wash fired Bosbely Reyna, a worker who has actively spoken out about the working conditions at Vermont Hand Wash. Reyna is also a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed by workers of the carwash against the owners for not paying us minimum wage or overtime pay, and not allowing us to take meal and rest breaks. Both of the recently fired workers had reported dangerous working conditions at the carwash to Cal/OSHA.
In April, a carwash worker at Vermont Hand Wash was fired after being quoted about the deplorable conditions at the carwash in the Los Angeles Times.
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