A First? California Car Wash Workers Get Union Contract

October 26th 2011 · 0 Comments

How the mighty have fallen.

When they began chasing the factories overseas, unions turned to organizing the service sector–hospitals, hotels, gaming and the like.

Then, the United Steel Workers of America took the America out of their name and just became the United Steelworkers.

Now, however, the United Steelworkers have just succeeded in doing the unthinkable–unionizing car wash workers.

Workers at the Bonus Hand Car Wash in Santa Monica celebrated Tuesday after signing a union contract with their employer. The agreement resulted in what many believe is the first union car wash in the country.

Oliviero Gomez, an employee of the car wash for nine years, has spent the last three years organizing his co-workers.

“Now we can take our breaks, our rest periods — we have our schedule respected. Now when it’s really hot, we can take a rest break with the agreement of the manager,” Gomez said, speaking through an interpretor.

The contract also includes an increase in pay to just above minimum wage.

Now, the only question remains is: Once the unionized car wash dealers get done paying union dues, will they even make minimum wage?

[The things today's unions will do for dues...]