Our Perspective
Finally, Justice for
Downstate
Car Wash Workers
Moves Forward
By Stuart Appelbaum, President
Retail, Wholesale and Department
Store Union, UFCW
Twitter: @sappelbaum
When the New York State Senate passed a
bill amending the sub-minimum wage for
car wash workers on June 5 and the
Assembly passed the same bill a day later, the state legislature sent a clear
message to car wash employers that their workers in New York City,
Westchester and Long Island should be paid at least the minimum wage.
Under current law car wash owners have been allowed to pay workers well
below the minimum wage. It’s a confusing and unjust system and has often
led to wage theft in the industry. The new law will be a revolutionary change
for underpaid workers, too many of whom often suffer from wage theft, and
are forced to struggle to survive in one of the nation’s most expensive places
to live. It’s a resounding victory for car wash workers, who have been
fighting for their rights and better pay since 2012, when the RWDSU, Make
the Road New York and New York Communities for Change began working
to reform an industry that was rife with exploitation.
The current system – which bases car wash minimum wages
based upon location, car wash size, and anticipated tips per
employee – has created a confusing web of 8 different possible subminimum
wages in New York. That confusion often provides
employers with an outrageous license to steal, and even wellmeaning
employers have sometimes run afoul of the law due to its
complicated nature.
At labor board hearings held last year, officials and the public
heard first-hand about the struggles workers affected by subminimum
wages are experiencing. Workers have testified about their
inability to live in dignity because they can’t afford decent housing for
their families; and how they can’t look for other work because they
cannot afford adequate transportation. Workers struggle with paying
their bills and putting food on the table.
For the car wash workers in New York City – especially those without
union representation – sub-minimum wages have been a vehicle for
wage theft and systemic underpayment. Investigations have shown that
employers don’t always make up the extra pay for workers when tips are
short; and car wash workers don’t always receive the tips customers
presume are going into their pockets.
The new law would take away one major opportunity for
unscrupulous car wash owners to underpay their workers, and that’s
important in an industry where operators have been fined and directed
to make restitution for wage theft to the tune of millions of dollars.
Banning the so-called “tip credit” in the car
wash industry downstate would help lift up 5,000
mostly immigrant car wash workers in New
York. We applaud the state legislature and look
forward to swift action by Governor Cuomo.
www.rwdsu.org
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J 34 UNE 14-20, 2019 BTR
The groundbreaking for a long-awaited building that will house formerly homeless veterans
at a location that once was a military installation at 555 Neried Avenue took place on
Wednesday, May 22. Photo courtesy of the DOE Fund
90 units of housing at former
U.S. Army Reserve Center
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
Ground broke on Wednesday, May
22 on a 90-unit building that will offer
affordable apartments at 555 Neried
Avenue in the Wakefi eld community.
When completed, the building
will have 54 studio apartments for
veterans, according to non-profi t developer
The DOE Fund, as well as an
additional 35 units that Community
Board 12 was told would be available
for lower-income seniors.
After years of controversy and
delay over the future use and redevelopment
of the former Joseph A.
Muller Army Reserve Center, where
the project is located, the new construction
appears to be a welcome development,
said George Torres, CB 12
district manager.
The project arose from a compromise
agreement between community
and elected offi cials after a proposal
originating as early as 2010 to develop
a 200-bed shelter at the location was
strongly opposed by the community,
according to previously published
Bronx Times articles.
“I give a lot of credit to the DOE
Fund and to our elected offi cials because
they changed it (the plan),” said
Torres, who added after the intended
use changed from transitory to permanent
housing and offered housing
for veterans, the board voted to support
the development.
“Overall, I think Woodlawn and
Wakefield thought it was a winning
compromise,” said Torres. “It
would be no more than 90-units for
formerly homeless veterans and for
seniors, and it would be permanent
housing.”
The district manager said the
community’s willingness to take on
the DOE Fund as partners was instrumental
to getting the project underway,
and that the groundbreaking
speaks to The DOE Fund’s willing-
ness to engage the community.
The building will include a live-in
super who will have his or her own
apartment, with some units set aside
for local residents, according to the
developer.
Interior construction on the fourstory
building is expected to be completed
by 2021, and MHG Architects
was responsible for the redesign.
The project turned into an incredible
partnership with the community,
which has resulted in a great
endeavor, said Councilman Andrew
Cohen.
“Across New York City there are
veterans struggling to make ends
meet after their tremendous contributions
and sacrifi ces for our nation,”
said Cohen. “So I am thrilled
and thankful that The Doe Fund is
breaking ground on a project that
will provide permanent supportive
and affordable housing for homeless
veterans.”
Affordable housing is such a
pressing need and scare resource,
said Torres, who said that this need,
along with senior housing, will be
addressed with the development.
The building features 24-hour security,
custodial staff, a bike room,
and a private side yard for residents
and their guests.
It also will have a 123-seat lecture
hall and theater that will be available
for community events, educational
programming and cultural activities.
In a statement, The DOE Fund’s
founder and president, George Mc-
Donald, said that they were grateful
for the input of community members
and all partners.
“We are deeply proud to transform
the former Joseph A. Muller Center
into 90 modern, beautiful, high-quality
homes for people who desperately
need stability,” said McDonald.
/www.rwdsu.org
/www.rwdsu.org