Chicago wash owners are casually stealing millions from their workers, according to a new study:

CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago car wash workers are trying to organize a union and are the subject of new research that finds their employers routinely steal from them.

WBBM Newsradio’s Mike Krauser reports new research by a University of Illinois at Chicago professor suggests car washes in Chicago are ripping off their mostly immigrant workers to the tune of $2.5 million a year.

“These violations are the norm. These are not bad apples,” said UIC professor Robert Bruno.

A third of Chicago’s car wash workers have been robbed this way. It’s the de facto industry standard. Wage theft happens at 70% of Chicago car washes.

Owners regularly hold back tips and overtime pay. Most of the city’s car wash workers live in poverty despite working much more than full time. 

Car wash workers in New York report similar abuses. 

[Photo credit: Daviddag, Creative Commons.]