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Prevent the Exploitation of Car Wash Workers
Those shiny cars crusing across California's highways create dirty problems every day for thousands of exploited car wash workers. For too long, workers who wash and polish our cars have toiled in unsafe conditions, and are often victimized by unscrupulous owners. The Car Wash Worker Law, implemented in 2006, attempted to protect some of the state's most vulnerable workers, but now the law is about to expire. Ensure it doesn't. Tell Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to extend the law and continue to prevent the exploitation of car wash workers.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Re: AB 236 (Swanson) -- Support I urge you to sign AB 236, the Car Wash Worker Law, which would extend the sunset on protections and remedies for car wash workers exploited by unscrupulous employers. Among other provisions, this bill would preserve the requirement that car wash employers maintain the records of workers? wages, hours, and working conditions and register with the state -- including posting a surety bond and fees. The bond and fees would be used to create a fund intended for workers denied wages or worker's compensation by their employers. AB 236 ensures that workers receive the minimum wage and the benefit of other labor standards enforced by the California Labor Commissioner and I believe that these protections will help improve working conditions for workers in an industry where violations of the state's labor laws are rampant. Despite the 2006 implementation of the original legislation that contained these protections (AB 1688, 2003), labor violations in the car wash industry continue to be severe and widespread. By extending the sunset date, AB 236 will take a significant step toward achieving the goals of the 2003 legislation: ensure that car wash workers are protected and that there is a level playing field for legitimate law-abiding businesses. For these reasons I ask that you sign AB 236.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
- The small gains made for car wash workers across California could be lost without this bill.
- Car wash workers would have difficulty recovering unpaid wages if this bill is not signed.
- Car wash employees would no longer be held up to standards meant to protect workers from exploitation such as the documentation of worker safety and wages.
