Posts Tagged: car wash

The workers at SLS car wash in Bushwick in Brooklyn, New York, have seen the difference that union membership has made for hundreds of car wash workers in New York City since the Car Wash Campaign began in 2012. Now, they’ve made SLS Car Wash the 11^th car wash facility in New York, where workers are represented by the RWDSU. SLS, also known as Atlantis Wash & Lube, has about 50 workers and is the largest car wash in the country to unionize. Nine shops have signed contracts.

Determined workers and RWDSU organizers braved the cold winter during the organizing drive. By handing out information and talking with workers, the organizing leaders were able to rally increasing support. Workers voted overwhelmingly in favor of joining the union. They wanted a change after years of mistreatment.

“Before we organized a union we worked under a lot of stress,” SLS worker Cheik Umat Balde said. “The managers will always yell at us to work faster. Sometimes they will call us stupid.  We had to deal with unknown chemicals with no protections. Now, with a union we will be protected – but most importantly, we will have respect and dignity, and that to me is priceless.”

A coworker, Ramon Carcamo, who has been at SLS for six years said, “I decided to organize with my coworkers to change the working conditions at the car wash because I knew that we had rights that we were not getting. Now, with a union, the car wash managers will have to treat all of us with respect. We knew that if we were united, no one could silence our voice for justice and claim our rights at work.”

The Car Wash Campaign, a coalition of New York Communities for Change, Make the Road New York and the RWDSU, have been advocating on behalf of workers in New York City’s largely unregulated car wash industry for nearly four years.

UFCW/RWDSU car wash workers were invited to take part in a papal meeting at a school in East Harlem on Saturday, September 26.

“I feel very proud, and happy. I have goosebumps just thinking about it,” said Jose Reynaldo Sanchez, a self-described “carwashero” who emigrated from El Salvador and works in the Bronx. He dries cars and is a shop steward.

Refugio Denicia immigrated from Mexico to Queens 12 years ago and does detail work at Five Star car wash in Elmhurst, one of nine New York car washes with a union contract.

Denicia said he believes that the Pope can make a difference in how Americans view the issue of immigration.

“I think he can help move immigration reform forward, to keep families together,” said Denicia.

Fellow car wash worker Patricio Santiago said he has met Mayor de Blasio through his work organizing for better car wash working conditions, but never thought his campaigning could lead to an audience with a global figure like Pope Francis.

“Now I have the fortune to be with the Pope in person. Because of how have I worked I will have this great opportunity,” said Santiago, who does detail work at Jomar Car Wash in Flushing and is a union shop steward.

UFCW/RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum released the following statement on the special event.

“We are honored that carwasheros Patricio Santiago, Refugio Denicia, and Jose Reynaldo Sanchez were  invited to meet with Pope Francis at Our Lady Queen of Angels School in East Harlem.

“Pope Francis is an extraordinary moral leader on economic justice for all people in this world. He inspires  low-wage workers seeking dignity and justice; and he inspires humanity across the globe.

“Car wash workers in New York City have also been an inspiration to immigrants and working people. They’ve fought back against a culture of exploitation; and by winning union contracts and  representation with the UFCW/RWDSU, they are proving that when workers join together, they can make a  difference in their lives. With our partners New York Communities for Change and Make the Road New  York, the UFCW/RWDSU is committed to transforming the lives of New York’s carwasheros.

“The invitation for these RWDSU members to meet with the Pope serves as a message to all people in  this country that every worker, regardless of what they do or where they came from, is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.”