June 7, 2013
By Neal Tepel
BRONX, NY – A second New York City carwash has signed a contract with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), capping a struggle that included a 13-week strike by workers to get their jobs back after walking out because carwash owners failed to pay them in a timely manner.
The workers at Sunny Day Car Wash ratified a three-year contract that mirrors the contract the union reached with another carwash in Queens less than two weeks ago.
It was the second victory for the WASH New York campaign — a joint effort between Make the Road New York and New York Communities for Change, and supported by the RWDSU.
“We are thankful to the WASH NY campaign, without their support none of this would have been possible,” said Juan Campis, a worker at Sunny Day. “I feel like we won what many deemed impossible."
The campaign was launched last year to fight widespread mistreatment in the car wash industry. In September 2012, Hi-Tek workers became the first location in NYC to vote to unionize in an effort to improve their working conditions.
CAPTION: Organizers and attorneys for the RWDSU join with a member of the Sunny Day Car Wash negotiating committee to sign a new contract for car wash workers, New York City
