https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/oakland-popeyes-child-labor-law-allegations-18109146.php

‘All this trauma is not good for us’: Workers strike at Oakland Popeyes

Ariana Bindman, SFGATE

May 19, 2023

In a complaint filed with the California Labor Commissioner's Office, two teenagers reportedly worked from 5 p.m. to as late as 11 p.m. at the Popeyes at 7007 International Blvd. in Oakland.

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Two high school students alleged that management at a Popeyes in East Oakland forced them to work long hours late into the night, violating California’s child labor laws, a report from the Washington Post said.

In a complaint filed with the California Labor Commissioner's Office, the two teenagers reportedly worked from 5 p.m. to as late as 11 p.m. at the 7007 International Blvd. location, even though labor laws limit minors to working just four hours a day, until no later until 10 p.m., on school nights. The Twitter account Fight for 15 Nor Cal, which appears to be affiliated with the worker advocacy group Fight for 15, claims that wage theft and sexual harassment are “rampant” at this particular location. Group representatives did not immediately return SFGATE’s request for comment. 

Johmara Romero, a 17-year-old cashier, told the Post that once she started working these late hours, she was so exhausted that she began missing the bus and falling behind in school. The Mercury News reported that one employee was just 13 years old when they first started working at Popeyes and toiled at the establishment for up to 45 hours per week. Subsequently, employees went on strike Thursday, temporarily shutting down the restaurant. 

“We don’t get our breaks. They cut our hours. They make us go late without giving our hours,” Romero said in a video of the strike. “I feel like that’s really bad because we’re minors. We shouldn’t be having to experience things like this at such a young age. All this trauma is not good for us.” 

A Popeyes representative told SFGATE in an emailed statement that the company immediately shut down the restaurant and swiftly began an investigation in response to the employees' allegations. “We will not tolerate any violation of employment laws,” they said in the statement. “And if any of these allegations prove true, we will take action against this franchisee.”