Cooks and cashiers at a McDonald’s in East Los Angeles held a lunchtime protest Thursday, June 1, claiming management has pressured them to work while sick or recovering from serious injuries.
The rally came just weeks after employee Bertha Montes died.
In a May 31 complaint filed with the California Labor Commissioner and CalOSHA, coworkers said Montes told her manager she was sick on April 13 and needed to go home.
With “bulging red, glossy eyes,” she was forced to work for another three hours, they said. Montes died about five weeks later. Her sister informed a worker at the restaurant that Montes died as a result of thyroid problems, which affected her blood and lungs.
That incident and several others are documented in the complaint from 11 of the non-union workers employed at McDonald’s at 3868 E. 3rd St. in East L.A.
Armed with signs reading, “I’m Not Loving It,” “Respect for Workers” and “On Strike: McDonald’s Listen to Your Workers,” employees exited the restaurant Thursday amid cheers from supporters and representatives with Fight for $15, which aims to boost wages and improve working conditions for low-paid workers.
“It is not right that management did not let Bertha leave work when she said she was sick and needed to leave,” the complaint says. “Bertha’s death has affected us all, and inspired us to file this complaint.”
Representatives with McDonald’s could not be reached for comment Thursday and a manager at the restaurant said she was not aware of a noon protest.
Workers say the complaint represents an ongoing pattern of managers demanding that workers finish their shifts even while exhibiting obvious symptoms of COVID-19, flu or other serious illnesses or injury.
“Lack of sick pay and lack of accurate information about workers comp contribute to workers feeling like we have to work sick and injured because we are put in the impossible situation of having to choose between working sick and getting…
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