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By Jason Islas
Lookout Staff

October 26, 2011 --Bonus Car Wash in Santa Monica became the only unionized car wash in the country Tuesday morning.

After four years of campaigning, employees of Bonus Car Wash now have a contract. Photos by Jason Islas

After almost four years of campaigning, workers at the Bonus Car Wash on Lincoln Boulevard joined Head of United Steelworkers Local 675 Dave Campbell and Mike Watson, the carwash's general manager, who publicly signed a contract that secures a wage increase, health and safety protections and the right to arbitration, among other benefits.

Dave Campbell, head of United Steelworkers Local 675, signs the contract, making Bonus Car Wash the first unionized car wash in the United States.

“Without a union, certain employers will take advantage of the fact that their workers are immigrants,” Campbell said to applause and shouts of “arriba los carwasheros” – “up with the car wash workers” in English.

He also thanked the workers who, he said, “put their jobs on the line” to campaign for the cause.

One worker holds a sign that says this should be an example to all employers.

One of those workers, an emotional Oliverio Gomez, told the excited crowd “I feel really happy because now I don't have to worry about how I am going to support my family member who is ill.”

Councilmembers Kevin McKeown and Terry O'Day were both present at the signing.

“I am proud of you for what you have accomplished for yourselves,” McKeown told the crowd. He said that this victory was part of a proud tradition in Santa Monica of supporting workers' rights.

McKeown told The Lookout at the event that he planned to advocate for all city-owned vehicles to be washed at Bonus Car Wash, a proposal he said he would bring up at the November 1st City Council meeting.

O'Day agreed to support McKeown's proposal.

“After years of conflict at this location, in the context of an industry with real problems with respect for workers, today couldn't be more welcome,” O'Day told The Lookout.

“This city and this community have stood by these workers and celebrate with them today. I look forward to a new model for the industry that starts here, in Santa Monica,” he said.

Watson offered similar sentiments saying “We are looking forward to a partnership with the United Steelworkers that will make our business stronger and improve the opportunities and job satisfaction for all our employees.”

The campaign – which started in 2008 – has been supported by several organizations, including Community-Labor-Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), which has been working to root out abuses of workers and violations of labor laws by car washes in Los Angeles. Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice LA has also been a major supporter of the workers' campaign.

Beth Shir Shalom Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels, who works with CLUE, offered the crowd a hearty “mazel tov” Tuesday.

“Now you know how it feels when the seas part,” Comess-Daniels said.

The issue of worker abuse in the carwash industry and the the workers' attempt to unionize has garnered national attention.

A New York Times article in 2010 reported that about two-thirds of the 500 car washes in Los Angeles pay their workers less than minimum wage, as well as committing other violations of labor law.

According to the Times, workers at car washes throughout Los Angeles are often not paid for time when cars aren't being washed, they are denied lunch, and aren't given proper goggles or gloves to use in their work. Sometimes, the article says, they are only allowed to take home tips, no wages.

“We want all of the car wash workers throughout L.A. to win a union contract that will improve their lives as well,” Gomez said in his speech.

“We will not stop until every car wash worker enjoys the same rights as us. Something very big is just beginning,” he said.