Cooks and cashiers at a Pizza Hut in Los Angeles launched a three-day strike Wednesday, March 6, claiming management has engaged in wage theft by denying them meal breaks, overtime and paid sick leave.
Five workers at the 2542 W. Temple St. location — some represented by the newly created California Fast Food Workers Union — filed a complaint with the California Labor Commissioner’s Office seeking more than $81,000 in back pay and penalties.
In one instance, they allege a manager accessed the store’s computer system, manually changed employee hours and marked un-taken breaks as taken.
The restaurant is owned by the Southern California Pizza Co. franchise, one of three Pizza Hut franchises that recently announced plans to lay off more than 1,200 delivery drivers.
Representatives with the franchise and Pizza Hut could not be reached for comment.
In one instance, they allege a manager accessed the store’s computer system, manually changed employee hours and marked untaken breaks as taken. (Photo courtesy of the California Fast Food Workers Union)
The March 6 complaint alleges “chaotic scheduling” with employees often being forced to work through meal and rest breaks.
“I can’t take my 10-minute rest breaks because the store is short-staffed,” a worker said in the complaint. “I often work alone, so there is no one to cover for me if I take a break. The only person who could cover for me is the manager, but he doesn’t cover for me.”
One pay stub shows employee Julietta Garcia was paid for 3.5 hours of work the week of Feb. 6, for example, when she actually worked 6.5 hours. The company allegedly shorted her a day of paid sick leave, too.
The complaint also alleges workers were cheated out of overtime pay. Another employee who completed 20 hours of required training to become a manager wasn’t paid for the training time.
Kimberly Oliva, who earns $16.75 an hour, is owed a total of $20,543.37 for wages unlawfully withheld, plus penalties dating from October 2022 through Feb. 1, 2024, the action alleges.
“They don’t give me my breaks and won’t pay me for my sick time,” the 20-year-old Los Angeles resident said. “I’ve gone into debt because I had to take out loans to pay my bills and rent.”
But come April 1, Oliva will see her pay increase to $20 an hour. That’s California’s new minimum wage for fast-food workers under Assembly Bill 1228. The legislation, signed into law last year by Gov. Gavin Newsom, applies to all fast-food businesses in California with more than 60 locations nationwide.
The bill also includes annual pay increases of 3.5% over the next three years.
Workers at the same Pizza Hut held a rally in late January to protest wage theft, a pattern of “chaotic, abusive scheduling” and pending job cuts. The restaurant’s eight delivery drivers were subsequently laid off Feb. 2.
Alba Lanzas, who had been a delivery driver at the restaurant for 19 years, said the job cuts were fueled by $20-an-hour minimum wage under AB 1228. The company, she said, is looking to reduce its operating costs.
“It’s frustrating,” said Lanzas, who was also earning $16.75 an hour before her layoff. “Now I’m doing Uber Eats.”
Lanzas, who also is represented in the complaint, is owed $28,792,18 in withheld wages plus penalties for the period running from February 2021 through February 5, 2024, the action says.
Hundreds of cooks and cashiers joined together in Los Angeles last month to launch the California Fast Food Workers Union, aimed at fighting for fair pay, safe and healthy workplaces and a voice for all workers in the fast-food industry.
Workers are also urging the Los Angeles City Council to pass a Fast Food Fair Work ordinance to further strengthen protections for fast-food workers in the city.