After the California Attorney General filed a suit against a car wash in Santa Monica, where workers had to show up at a certain time, but were not allowed to clock in until customers arrived, the workers became the first in Southern California to join a union. The agreement at the car wash in Santa Monica covers 30 workers and includes a 2% raise. The contract also establishes a grievance procedure and standardizes rules. Organizers say that they are in talks with other car washes, and hope to reach similar agreements.
See "Carwash workers celebrate union contract", Sam Quinones, Los Angeles Times, October 25, 2011