Arcadia workers join a Facebook group, Cheesecake Factory COVID-19 Affecting Employees, with over 7,000 members from around the country. It becomes a place where workers can share concerns about pandemic working conditions. ROC-LA posts information about workers’ rights and runs polls to find out about working conditions.
ROC-LA
Employer addresses most violations
The Los Angeles Department of Public Health conducts a follow up to their investigation and finds that violations have been corrected.
Los Angeles County implements Public Health Councils
LA County establishes the pilot Public Health Councils (PHCs) program, prioritizing certain high hazard industries – including restaurants – that have significant numbers of COVID-19 outbreaks, complaints, and violations. Public Health Councils are comprised of workers that conduct peer-to-peer education with their co-workers, identify potential violations of Health Officer Orders (HOOs), and work to increase…
PHC continues to identify and address worksite problems
The PHC continues to meet weekly with support from ROC-LA. Workers face new and ongoing concerns as management is not following the established COVID protocols such as documenting workers’ vaccination status, notifying workers of cases, or providing required information. Workers are also concerned about customer harassment and aggression that results from enforcing mask mandates.
ROC-LA becomes certified to support PHC
ROC-LA gets a city grant through the PHC program to build worker leadership in restaurants. ROC-LA goes through the process to become one of the Certified Worker Organizations that supports public health councils. This involves providing training on hazards, communicating with workers, navigating the public health system, and filing complaints.
ROC-LA conducts worker survey
ROC-LA conducts a survey with 277 Cheesecake Factory workers in 37 states. Over 70% of workers share that someone at their worksite has COVID-19 symptoms; a quarter were told by management not to discuss their symptoms; 44% were afraid of retaliation if they brought up concerns about health and safety; and more than half did…
ROC-LA continues outreach and leadership training
PHC members start to meet with workers outside of work because of concerns about retaliation. ROC-LA continues to recruit workers for the PHC and conduct training for leaders on public speaking, talking to the media, and story-telling. ROC-LA forms a private chat group so that members can message securely to share updates, links, and photos.…
ROC-LA responds to worker retaliation
ROC-LA helps a worker file a retaliation complaint. The worker is a member of the PHC program and his hours were cut significantly after he gets involved in the complaint process. An investigator from the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs talks to the worker to investigate. As a result of the findings, the case…
Workers contact ROC-LA
Workers from the Arcadia Cheesecake Factory contact ROC-LA. They share their concerns and ask for help.
Workers file their first complaint
In their first public health department complaint, workers report broken equipment that caused multiple injuries, black mold in the dish pit and bar sink areas, inadequate ventilation, and lack of information regarding COVID-19 paid sick leave. The same day, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health conducts an inspection and finds HOO violations, such as:…
Workers Form Public Health Council
Click for video ROC-LA helps workers form a public health council in the Arcadia Cheesecake Factory. ROC-LA explains the purpose of forming a PHC and provides training on public health violations. The PHC begins meeting regularly.
Workers talk to Cheesecake Factory investors
Click for video The non-profit Private Equity Stakeholders Project helps ROC-LA research investors in the Cheesecake Factory. ROC-LA supports four workers to prepare their testimony and members of the PHC and ROC-LA organizers attend the LA City Employee Retirement System (LACERS) pension fund meeting, which has investments in the Cheesecake Factory. It is the first…
