Who we are
Mission Statement: CLUE-LA educates, organizes, and mobilizes the faith community to walk with workers and their families in their struggle for respect and dignity in the workplace and beyond. All religions believe in economic justice.
CLUE LA, founded in 1996, is one of the oldest interfaith worker justice organizations
in the country. CLUE LA’s mission is to bring together clergy and lay leaders
of all faiths to join low-wage workers in their struggles for justice.
Its many accomplishments began with key support for the successful Los Angeles’s
1997 Living Wage campaign.
CLUE LA took a leadership role in the battle to keep Wal-Mart out of Inglewood;
played a central role in the passage of statewide legislation increasing funding
for staffing for nursing homes; provided strategic support for striking grocery
workers that brought the owner of Safeway back to the bargaining table; created
dramatic actions in support of hotel workers in Santa Monica and Los Angeles
that were crucial to victory; and played an important role in the public policy
and corporate campaigns of healthcare workers and janitors.
CLUE LA has over 600 religious leaders and 1200 lay people active in its work,
including a very broad range of ethnic and denominational constituencies,
including Christian Evangelicals, Muslim leaders and mosques, all of the Jewish
denominations, historic African-American churches, Hispanic Pentecostals,
and Korean congregations.
A Brief History of CLUE
It all began in 1996, when religious leaders joined the effort to pass a living
wage law mandating businesses with Los Angeles city contracts to provide adequate
wages and health benefits. After the legislation passed, CLUE was formed with
the purpose of organizing the religious community to support low-wage workers
in their struggles for a living wage, health benefits, respect and a voice
in the corporate and political decisions which affect them. CLUE partners
with activist unions and community organizations to increase workers’ capacity
to impact their employers, to attain worker-friendly public policies and to
pressure commercial/industrial developers to agree to a community benefits
package in exchange for permits and subsidies.
Hi. My name is Facundo.
I’ve been a Carwash/Waxer Attendant for over a year in a physical hand-washing only car wash. I work 3-7 days a week at the rate of $30-$60/daily pay and tips of $7-$20 that is shared with 5-7 other men. We get no breaks or lunch and have to work 10 hour shifts, dispite heat or hunger exhaustion.
Leaving this job isn’t an option as it would put a great finacial burden on my family.
I have injured my eyes with the chemicals I am exposed to and now suffering pain in my hands and arms.
My boss has been aware of my injuries but responds by saying Im being lazy and just get to work.
I am yelled and cursed at infront of clients constantly. Clients have also commented of the injustice and horrible treatment that still continues.
I get paid cash, work in all conditions, but the injuries and humiliation make me feel worse than an animal.
I speak spanish but can speak english understandably .
so my wife is typing this for me.
I greatly appreciate any feedback to my concerns as matters have not improved. My co-workers choose not to say anything for fear or loosing the job or retaliation.
I will await a responce in any form.
Thank you, Facundo @ 323-423-0401 or 909-964-0832