Opening a new front in L.A.’s labor wars, union officials and their allies plan to announce this week a campaign to organize thousands of workers at local car washes.

The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and a coalition of community, religious, environmental and immigrant rights organizations has scheduled a Thursday morning press conference at the federation’s headquarters to announce the union organizing campaign. They plan to release a report documenting allegations of violations of labor laws in the industry.

“Carwash owners are often operating below the radar of labor, health and safety and environmental laws,” Labor Federation spokeswoman Mary Guitierrez said in the press announcement. “Carwash workers are often illegally paid less than the minimum wage, sometimes working for tips alone and are regularly subjected to health and safety hazards.”

The coalition’s move follows a recent media investigation of alleged abuses in the local carwash industry.

A spokesman for the Western Carwash Association in Paramount declined to comment on the union organizing campaign but said the association supports efforts by state regulators to crack down on violators of labor and health and safety laws.

“The Western Carwash Association has worked diligently with the state Labor Commissioner’s office to provide a level playing field for carwash operators and to ensure that car wash workers are handled properly and according to the law,” said Sam Oliveto, executive director of the Western Carwash Association.