Fast-Food Workers Strike, Call For More Pay, Safety Protections Amid Coronavirus Pandemic

Workers at a Santa Monica, California, Burger King walked off the job Thursday, calling for better treatment in the workplace and more protections from COVID-19, ABC News reported.

After the workers sent a complaint to city officials, Cal/OSHA started an investigation into the death of a Burger King worker. The agency did not release any details.

The victim, Angela Martinez Gomez, worked while exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 that included coughing and nausea, but her managers allegedly brushed off the symptoms, saying they were side effects of her hormone injections, ABC reported. Gomez, who was transgender, died on July 6.

In their complaint, which was obtained by KTLA, a Los Angeles CW affiliate , Gomez’s coworkers said: “Burger King has kept us in the dark and our lives and our families are at risk. Burger King has not told us there are COVID-19 cases or suspected cases at the store and they are not being honest about what happened with Angela.”

The Burger King workers requested local regulators close the Santa Monica restaurant immediately for deep cleaning and the implementation of a safety plan. They also asked for paid leave during any COVID-19 closures and compensation for missed time at work due to coronavirus exposure.

Burger King said in a statement to ABC News: "Burger King restaurants follow rigorous precautions to keep team members and guests safe at all times. There has been no news or confirmation that Angela's tragic death was associated with COVID-19. No symptoms were reported by the team at that location."

COVID-19 cases in California have reached more than 355,000, with more than 7,300 deaths as of midafternoon on Thursday, according to John Hopkins University. In Los Angeles County, cases are up 13.9% since last week and deaths are up 6.9%, Weather.com reported.