When Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo filed a 176-count criminal complaint Tuesday against two Los Angeles-area car wash owners, union groups had already been fighting for months to improve pay and working conditions at the owners' shops. The complaint alleged Vermont Hand Wash owners Nisan and Benny Pirian failed to pay wages and intimidated and harassed workers with a deadly weapon. The brothers could face up to 86 years in prison and $136,000 in fines if convicted.

"We will hold to account, and prosecute, those who cheat or abuse their employees," Delgadillo said in a press release announcing the complaint. "Los Angeles protects its working families." 

In the months after workers publicly launched an organizing drive with the Carwash Workers Organizing Committee and the United Steelworkers last March, labor officials say the Pirians have terminated three workers who support union efforts. 

The USW claims that Vermont Hand Wash co-owner Nisan Pirian fired worker Israel Jimenez after Jimenez allegedly backed into him as he was driving a customer's car. The National Labor Relations Board is investigating complaints that Jimenez was illegally retaliated against for his union activity. 

"I think the No.1 obstacle to organizing has been the continued interference with the workers' right to organize," said Paul Lee, CLEAN's campaign director. "That has had a chilling effect among the other workers." 

CLEAN's campaign - which is a joint effort of community members and the United Steelworkers - aims to raise industry levels at the city's 400 car washes, which for three decades have relied on a mostly Latino immigrant workforce. 

"Cars and car washes are such a part of L.A. and L.A. culture and people never stopped to think about what goes on inside them," Osmer said. 

In response to allegations that workers were being mistreated, CLEAN launched boycotts in May 2008 against the Pirian's four car washes. 

The boycotts also included facilities outside of Los Angeles; CLEAN called for a boycott against Auto Spa Express Carwash in Echo Park in July 2008. 

Rabbi Alison Abrams, organizing director with Faith Community Outreach, has participated in weekly protests in front of Vermont Hand Wash. She said the city's 10,000 car wash workers are unfairly treated. "They are not getting paid minimum wage and are being harassed." 

Nationally, car wash employers reported $872 million in revenues, with more than $251 million of this amount coming from Los Angeles County. 

But according to the United Steelworkers union, car wash employees earn a minimum wage of $8 an hour and below. In some cases, employees earn as little as $1.63 an hour, while many new hires work only for tips. 

"Any business that is built on a system of slave wages, is unjust," Abrams said. "And our response is: you can't profit on the backs of people." 

News of the workers' plight caught the attention of L.A. City Council members, who are investigating car washes with city contracts that do not abide by living wage laws. In October 2008 the council members voted to cancel a city contract with Auto Spa Express Carwash after discovering employers did not pay a living wage. 

"Sometimes as residents of the greatest nation on earth, we close our eyes and believe this kind of abuse only happens in foreign countries," said first district Councilman Ed Reyes. "Well guess what? There is no ignoring these sweat shops. They are on the corner of every major thoroughfare throughout the city." 

Aside from the low wages, union officials say employers regularly expose workers to harsh chemicals. 

Regardless of whether they work inside or outside, workers say they are constantly breathing in dangerous fumes. Union officials say those who wash, vacuum, soap or detail vehicles come in contact with chemicals. But, officials say those who dry the vehicles have it the worst. 

"This is the guy who is the most exposed," said Carlos Prensa, an organizer with the United Steelworkers Union. "They got Armor-all, they got Windex, they got acid [which is] basically for the rims ...." 

Jose Torres, who once worked hand-drying cars at Vermont Hand Wash, was among those who endured health problems from frequent exposure to chemicals. "When I used those chemicals, they were very strong," he said. "They caused problems with my eyes, with my skin. Some of my coworkers had difficulty breathing." 

While the campaign has not led to any car washes winning union contracts, labor officials said their campaign has resulted in some gains. 

Last month, 60 workers at Hollywood Riviera Car Wash in Redondo Beach won a lawsuit against their employers and will receive $450,000 in unpaid wages. Despite the allegations in the City Attorney's complaint, Benny and Nissan Pirian have improved safety conditions by providing gloves and face masks to workers, according to CLEAN. 

In addition, CLEAN said the Pirians have agreed to pay workers the $8 minimum wage. 

But labor officials said problems at Vermont Hand Wash persist, stating that the changes are largely inconsistent. 

USW organizer Carlos Prensa said Nisan Pirian has been reducing work hours of those who organize. "He has workers that he believes spoke out about the conditions and all that," he said. "He has them keep working four to five hours and those are the first ones that he sends home." 

In an interview, Pirian denied allegations, but refused to comment further. 

Workers at other Los Angeles car washes said they have had similar experiences. 

"They paid us $74 for a 10-hour day," said Aura, a former employee at Best Way Hand Car Wash in Los Angeles who did not wish to use her real name for fear of retaliation from her employer. "They would pay us that amount for 10 hours, but it was for clocking in at 8:30 and leaving at 6." 

The union also alleged that several car wash workers who spoke out about the bad conditions were being harassed and intimidated. 

As part of its complaint filed with the National Labor Relations Board, the United Steelworkers claimed that a manager at Vermont Hand Wash showed up with a machete after worker Israel Jimenez complained about getting his hours cut. 

On another occasion, car wash manager Manuel Reyes pulled out .38 caliber bullets and showed them to Jimenez. Union officials said Reyes was aware Jimenez was organizing workers. "The reading was that he was threatening him," said Prensa. 

Despite this, the union said that community leaders and workers had no plans to end their campaign to improve car wash conditions. 

"We believe that economic justice issues are moral issues," said Abrams. "We must call for justice." 

The City Attorney's office will set an arraignment date for the charges they filed against the Pirian brothers within 30 days.