SANTA MONICA, CA — Another lawsuit has been filed by carwash workers here alleging withheld overtime pay and poor working conditions, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The May 21 story stated that the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) filed the class-action suit on the behalf of four workers at carwashes owned by Bijan, Edna and Kambiz Damavandi. According to the suit, the family owns Lincoln Millennium Car Wash, Santa Monica Car Wash and Bumble Bee Car Wash.
The suit alleges that the family forced workers to arrive early, but they could only clock in when there were enough cars to wash. The suit also said that employees were not allowed proper breaks for water and lunch.
“They’d often insult you to get you to work faster,” Marcial Hernandez, a worker for eight years at Lincoln Millennium Car Wash, said in the story. Hernandez noted that he often worked 50 hours a week and was paid for only 40.
A MALDEF attorney said the total number of Damavandi employees to be included in the suit may be more than 100, and, in that case, damages sought in unpaid wages could move into seven figures.
The lawsuit was announced at a press conference outside of Santa Monica Car Wash. During the press conference, MALDEF attorneys were joined by clergy, unions and political leaders from the area.
As PC&D previously reported, the carwash unionization push in California has led to a few carwashes signing union agreements as well as multiple labor lawsuits.
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