Cooks and cashiers on the Pico Robertson location of quick meals Japanese restaurant Yoshinoya walked off the job on Tuesday over considerations about cleanliness, well being and security on the eatery.
The restaurant, identified for serving rice bowls, was plagued with cockroaches, soiled grills and leaky ceilings, in line with complaints filed by staff with the Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being and the state’s office security company.
“We now have seen cockroaches run across the money register they usually have been discovered lifeless within the kitchen,” the grievance learn. “Grease leaks from an uncleaned ceiling vent fan onto cooking hen.”
Within the grievance, staff mentioned that administration had precipitated the issues by chopping corners on ordering cleansing provides equivalent to dish cleaning soap and grill cleaner. They mentioned they’ve needed to improvise and use plastic baggage as gloves, and use lemonade and water to wash the grill. At instances they wash the dishes with out dish cleaning soap.
At a rally held Tuesday, the protesting staff urged native lawmakers to assist an L.A. metropolis ordinance that might set up”know-your-rights” coaching periods for quick meals staff. The employees are members of the California Quick Meals Employees Union, which is affiliated with Service Staff Worldwide Union.
The restaurant chain is owned by Yoshinoya America, which is a U.S. subsidiary of Japan-based Yoshinoya Holdings. The American department is headquartered in Torrance. The corporate didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark from The Instances.
Yoshinoya America mentioned in a press release to KTLA that the corporate was not conscious of well being and security considerations raised by staff however “stays firmly dedicated to the security and well-being of our staff and visitors.” The corporate mentioned its restaurant on La Cienega Boulevard within the Pico-Robertson neighborhood was inspected by the Los Angeles County Division of Well being in April and obtained a passing rating. County information affirm that the restaurant obtained a rating of 91 out of 100 throughout that inspection.
“Our company workplace has not been made conscious of any worker security considerations at this restaurant and has not obtained any data suggesting substandard situations,” the corporate mentioned. “That mentioned, sustaining secure and welcoming restaurant situations is all the time a prime precedence for us, and we are going to overview all out there data to make sure our excessive requirements proceed to be met.”
