They denounce unfair labor practices in front of the establishment of the city of Monterey Park
Regardless of the threats of rain, dozens of workers gathered on Tuesday outside a McDonald’s facility, located in the city of Monterey Park, to advocate for their rights.
Among their requests, they highlighted the improvement of salaries, a union that represents them and a halt to sexual harassment; They also reported unfair labor practices in that store.
One of the workers was Angélica Hernández, who has been providing services for the fast food chain for 15 years; eight of them in the town of Monterey Park, where the protest was held.
She said she was tired of workers being treated inferiorly by supervisors.
"You ask them for decent treatment and they ignore us," he said. "Or I ask for uniforms and they say I have to wait because they already gave me one."
Hernandez said that when he started working at McDonald’s he was only given a uniform, which he had to wear all week. At six months they gave him a second.
"And I have to wash them every now and then because I don't like to wear the dirty uniform … That's unfair," said the 46-year-old worker.
Although he was afraid of losing his job to protest, Hernández – who has three children – said he didn't care because he believes that many employees will continue to be affected if nothing is done about it.
“I will continue until the end. We have to get them to listen to us, ”he said.
For medical insurance
Laura Pozos, 58, has worked for the company for four years. He said that in 2019 he decided to join the group of dissatisfied workers and that since then, he has seen reprisals from managers.
"When I protested last year, they didn't tell me anything in person but they started taking away many hours," he said. "Now I only work 25 to 30 hours a week."
Wells said the situation is difficult since she has to support two underage girls.
“I worry because we are fighting for fair things and we want them to listen to us. We need health insurance, ”he added.
He explained that full-time workers do have health coverage and believes that this is one of the main reasons why companies refuse to give full-time work to employees.
"All of that has affected us because we have to support our families and keep the job."
McDonald’s is considered the second largest employer in the world.
Harassment Complaints
At the end of May last year, 25 McDonald's workers announced complaints or lawsuits for sexual harassment against the company, which raised the total number of accusations filed by workers in the Fight for $ 15 — the hour — to more than 50 in the past three years.
Hernández and Pozos also supported workers who have filed sexual harassment charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the fast-food giant.
Moreover, Pozos was part of the group that filed the complaint last year.
The two said they felt harassed and intimidated when a McDonald’s supervisor from Monterey Park came to show them images of the intimate parts of a man.
Although at that time they said nothing, they both agreed that it was a very embarrassing situation because the woman who showed them the images was their superior and did not know what to do.
“This company must respect you and we believe that some are not doing it,” said Pozos.
For his part, Hernández said that after that incident occurred, he made a report that he presented to store managers on February 14, 2019. However, he says, they have not done anything since then.
"There are many colleagues who are afraid to talk," he said. "But now I feel empowered to fight against injustices."
The protest also featured a cultural performance by working members of Los Angeles Fight for $ 15 and a women's union committee.
This included a song and a blindfold dance, entitled "The rapist is you," whose expression became popular months ago in Chile to accuse the stalkers.
On this occasion the women directly accused McDonald’s – as they indicated – of not paying attention to their demands.
The Opinion tried to contact McDonald’s to get any comments on this accusation but at the end of the edition there was no response.
