The Laundry Workers Center (LWC), also known as Laundry Workers Center United, is a worker center dedicated to improving the living and working conditions of those in the laundry, warehouse, and food service industries in New York City and New Jersey. LWC trains low-wage employees in union activism and supports labor agitation efforts.

Activities

The Laundry Workers Center runs the Progressive Block Leadership Institute, a training program to prepare low-income workers for union leadership. ¹

In November 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) recovered $90,000 in stolen and unpaid wages from a commercial dry cleaner in Queens, New York, after being alerted to the case by LWC. ²

During the COVID-19 pandemic, LWC shifted its focus to short-term support for union members, including conducting outreach seminars to educate workers on their legal protections and access to New York State’s Excluded Workers Fund. ³

In 2020, LWC member Beatriz Ramirez was fired from her job at the New Giant Laundromat for allegedly criticizing safety standards in the workplace. With LWC support, the company rehired Ramirez after a publicity campaign. ⁴

In February 2019, LWC supported worker action against the Sunshine Shirt Laundry Center for alleged abuses. The workers gained concessions, including higher wages (at least $14.28 per hour), a 35-hour work week, and indefinite permission to hang workers’ rights posters. In July, Sunshine closed down. With LWC support, workers continued legal action against the company and won a settlement in May 2020. ⁵

In 2014, employees of Liberato Restaurant launched a campaign against their employer for alleged abuses after being trained by LWC. Soon after, Liberato sued LWC. In January 2015, Liberato Restaurant filed a RICO suit against LWC for allegedly attempting to extort the business by harassing employees and customers. LWC and the Liberato employees claimed victory after receiving concessions in 2016. ^{6 7 8 9}

Also in 2014, LWC trained workers of B&H Photo on union organizing and tactics in response to alleged employer abuses. In the following year, the workers formed a union. In February 2016, in response to union claims, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against B&H alleging discrimination against Hispanic workers. In May 2017, B&H workers went on a one-day strike along with other Hispanic unions across the United States as part of the “Day Without An Immigrant” campaign. ^{10 11 12}

Funding

In early 2023, A24 Films auctioned props from the production of Everything Everywhere All at Once and donated the proceeds to the Laundry Workers Center. ¹³

In 2020, LWC received $10,000 from the Brooklyn Community Foundation. ¹⁴

LWC has also received funding from the North Star Fund, ¹⁵ the Emergent Fund, ¹⁶ the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, and the New York Foundation. ¹⁷

Coalitions

Laundry Workers Center is a founding member of the New York Worker Center Federation. ¹⁸

LWC is a member of the SWEAT (Securing Wages Earned Against Theft) Coalition. ¹⁹

LWC is a member of the NY Essential Workers Coalition, “a group of over 85 unions, worker centers, immigrant rights organizations, legal service providers, health and safety organizations, and community-based organizations” that supported laws designed to protect essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ²⁰

LWC is an “early member” and board member of the Food Chain Workers Alliance. ²¹

LWC was a member of the Justice for Job Seekers coalition, a group led by New Immigrant Community Empowerment. The coalition served as a watchdog for immigrant work agencies until New York passed the Justice for Job Seekers Bill in 2016 to enact more agency regulations. ²²

1. “About Our Community.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/ourcommunity.
2. “Attorney General James Recovers $90,000 in Stolen Wages for Queens Laundry Workers.” Laundry Workers Center. November 26, 2022. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/stolen_wages_recovered.
3. “Fund for Excluded Workers.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/fund_excluded.
4. “New Giant Launder Center.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/new_giant_launder_center.
5. “Sunshine Campaign.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/sunshine.
6. Knaub, Kelly. “NY Restaurant Slams Immigrant Association With RICO Row.” Law 360. January 20, 2015. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.law360.com/articles/613213/ny-restaurant-slams-immigrant-association-with-rico-row.
7. “Liberato v. Laundry Workers Ctr. United.” Case Text. May 8, 2015. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://casetext.com/case/liberato-v-laundry-workers-ctr-united.
8. “Liberato Restaurant.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://laundryworkerscenter.org/campaigns/liberato-restaurant/.
9. Divito, Nick. “Rude Mechanicals’ Protests Protested.” Court House News. July 16, 2014. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.courthousenews.com/rude-mechanicals-protests-protested/.
10. Gampat, Chris. “Workers Are Still Protesting Outside of B&H Photo Video For Better Treatment.” The Phoblographer. May 1, 2017. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.thephoblographer.com/2017/05/01/workers-still-protesting-outside-bh-photo-video-better-treatment/.
11. “#BHEXPOSED.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://laundryworkerscenter.org/campaigns/bhexposed/.
12. Berlinger, Joshua; Shoichet, Catherine E. “B&H discriminated against Hispanic workers, Labor Department lawsuit says.” CNN. February 29, 2016. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/29/us/bh-photo-lawsuit/.
13. Sun, Rebecca. “A24 Auctions ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ Costumes and Props for Charity.” Yahoo! Finance. February 22, 2023. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/a24-auctions-everything-everywhere-once-160000256.html.
14. “Laundry Workers Center.” Brooklyn Community Foundation. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.brooklyncommunityfoundation.org/grant-recipients/laundry-workers-center-0.
15. ^[1] “Seeking Organizers to Join Our Volunteer Community Funding Committees.” North Star Fund. July 13, 2023. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://northstarfund.org/2023/07/seeking-organizers-for-community-funding-committees/.
16. “2022 Grantees.” Emergent Fund. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.emergentfund.net/2022
17. Manheim, Jarol B. “The Emerging Role of Worker Centers in Union Organizing.” U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.uschamber.com/assets/archived/images/uscc_wfi_workercenterreport_2017.pdf.
18. Schindle, Arianna; Eid, Basma. “Immigrant Workers in New York City Unmask a New Movement.” Truthout. March 22, 2016. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://truthout.org/articles/immigrant-workers-in-new-york-city-unmask-a-new-movement/.
19. “SWEAT Coalition.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/sweatco.
20. “NY Essential Workers Coalition: NY Heroes Law.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/nyheroslaw.
21. “Food Chain Workers Alliance.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/food_chain_workers_alliance.
22. “Justice for Job Seekers.” Laundry Workers Center. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.lwcu.org/j4js.