The owners of Vermont Hand Wash agreed to pay back wages totaling $52,442 to four employees in a settlement with the National Labor Relations Board, according to a press release issued by the United Steelworkers. The carwash workers were either fired or saw their hours cut as a result of participating in a union organizing campaign.
Vermont Hand Wash and three other Los Angeles carwashes owned by Benny and Nissan Pirian have been the target of union organizers and labor advocates for months. Criminal charges were filed against the Pirians in February by the Los Angeles city attorney for alleged labor violations and unsafe working conditions.
The labor settlement calls for back pay and reinstatement of workers fired for participating in the organizing campaign and compensation to employees for time lost when the time clock was unplugged during union demonstrations, according to the release. In addition, a settlement notice must be read by the carwash owners to employees during paid working hours with an NLRB agent and union representatives present.
Two of the former employees waived reinstatement and a third will have his reinstatement offer remain open for two years.
In addition to the $52,442 in back wages, the carwash will pay $8,925 to employees as restitution for turning off the time clock during union picketing. Each employee could receive about $200, the release said.
Source:
United Steelworkers: USW Announces Victory for Los Angeles Car Wash Workers
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