In LA County, an estimated 500 carwashes employ around 10,000 carwasherxs. Car washes are a part of the vast underground economy in car-centric cities across California. Many car washes fail to follow basic labor, health, and safety laws. Long hours in the heat, abrasive and toxic chemicals, and no drinking water or refusal of rest breaks are commonplace in car wash businesses. Carwasherxs, or car wash workers, are rarely paid the minimum wage. Many also report working solely for tips -- a flagrant violation of local and federal labor laws. Despite this increasingly hostile environment, carwasherxs are fighting resiliently to change the industry for good. Through direct organizing at CLEAN, carwasherxs lead outreach and advocacy efforts around job safety, workplace hazards, wage and hour laws, environmental protection, and community health initiatives. CLEAN unites carwasherxs to a growing and innovative worker center movement whose aim is to improve the quality of life for all Angelenos.
