EL DORADO HILLS — Those passing by or patronizing a Taco Bell in El Dorado Hills on Monday afternoon encountered an uncommon scene outside the fast-food restaurant, where workers stood along Park Drive holding signs and picketing as part of a protest they said was driven by alleged racist harassment and unsafe working conditions inside the store.
Cooks and cashiers at the Taco Bell located at 3967 Park Drive assembled outside the restaurant around 3 p.m., launching the preplanned strike. Workers said the action was intended to call attention to what they allege has been “ongoing racist abuse by a manager, retaliation against employees who attempted to report concerns, and food-safety issues at the location.”
The employees are now represented by the California Fast Food Workers Union, part of the Service Employees International Union, and by attorneys with Legal Aid at Work, a free legal service. Legal Aid at Work provided an advisory to Folsom Times regarding the event, outlining the allegations and the basis for the walkout.
According to the union, workers filed a complaint with Cal/OSHA alleging harassment, physical intimidation, and unsafe working conditions at the El Dorado Hills restaurant. The complaint focused on the alleged conduct of one manager at the store, according to the filing.
In a letter referenced in the advisory, two employees — Isabel Borges Ramirez and Gabriela Flores Carpio — alleged that they experienced repeated racist insults and verbal abuse directed at Latino workers. According to the union, both women are Latina employees who have worked at the Park Drive location for more than two years.
“The store manager expresses his anger at us with ongoing verbal racist threats and abuse, including nearly every shift calling both of us stupid, (expletive) Mexicans and making racist statements when he sees Latino customers who do not speak English,” the employees reported in the complaint.
Workers also alleged that the manager engaged in a violent outburst during one incident in which he punched a wall next to an employee. That allegation was included in a Cal/OSHA complaint also referenced by Legal Aid at Work.
According to the advisory, the employees said they attempted to report the alleged harassment and discrimination but faced retaliation after doing so.
In addition to the Cal/OSHA filing, attorneys for the workers said they planned to file a formal complaint with the California Civil Rights Department that would include allegations of “racial and gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and a hostile work environment.”
The allegations raised by workers extended beyond claims of harassment and discrimination. According to the union’s advisory, employees also reported food-safety concerns at the restaurant, describing the working environment as a “nightmare” that they said threatened both workers and customers.
The advisory cited allegations of rodents and roaches in kitchen and lobby areas and claimed that food that was undercooked or spoiled had been served to customers. Those claims were included in the Cal/OSHA complaint filed by workers, according to Legal Aid at Work.
Employees who participated in the strike said they feared discipline or termination for speaking out but believed the walkout was necessary to prompt action. Organizers said the strike was aimed at urging a corporate investigation and securing immediate protections for Latino workers while the complaints are reviewed by state agencies.
Attorneys for the workers said filings with Cal/OSHA and the California Civil Rights Department could result in separate investigations. Cal/OSHA has the authority to inspect workplaces and issue citations related to workplace safety or retaliation, while the California Civil Rights Department reviews employment discrimination claims and can pursue remedies that include policy changes or damages.
Management at the El Dorado Hills Taco Bell location has not publicly commented on the allegations.
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