FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 6, 2019
Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259
-SUB-MINIMUM WAGE PAY COMING TO AN END FOR DOWNSTATE CAR WASH WORKERS-
HUGE VICTORY AS ASSEMBLY PASSES A.6346-C JUST ONE DAY AFTER THE SENATE PASSED THIER BILL ENDING SUB-MINIMUM WAGES FOR DOWNSTATE CAR WASH WORKERS
Carwasheros Call on Governor Cuomo to sign the Bill Into Law
NEW YORK, NY – Today, in a huge win for New York’s car wash workers and the culmination of their seven-year campaign for justice in the industry, the New York State Assembly passed A.6346-C. This comes just a day after the Senate passed S.4030-A. The new law would require car wash workers downstate for the first time to be paid the full minimum wage. The law is an important step towards ending the injustice of the tip-credit loophole which enables employers to deduct tips from workers’ wages and opens the door for unscrupulous employers to steal their wages. Now, car wash workers are urging the Governor to sign their bill into law quickly and finally put an end to their washed-out-wages.
“No worker should earn below the minimum wage – ever, and this law will change the lives of thousands of car wash workers in New York,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). “For far too long car wash workers in New York have earned poverty wages under the tip credit law. Today, the New York State Assembly made clear that our legislature recognizes that this abhorrent loophole has left immigrant workers susceptible to wage theft. As a result of the work of both chambers passing this legislation, over 5,000 workers will now have a chance to earn fair wages for their work. Governor Cuomo has long been a supporter of justice for car wash workers and we look forward to him signing this bill into law. We applaud the leadership of Speaker Carl Heastie and lead sponsor Assemblymember Marcos Crespo for taking this historic measure today to lift up and protect car wash workers.”
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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW Twitter:@RWDSU