Hotel workers strike after Pinoy plaintiff is fired


by Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

LOS ANGELES - A week after their announcement of a class action suit against the Holiday Inn Los Angeles Airport workers staged a one day strike to protest the firing of two whistleblowers, including Filipino Nico Quiapos.
Quiapos is one of the lead plaintiffs in a class action suit against the franchised hotel.
“First they fired John who's been with the company for 30 years. Then, they fired me. I've been here for 15 years just for telling the truth because of the charges that we charged them. Because of the charges they fired me,” said Quiapos.
Quiapos said he's had no violations during the 15 years he worked at the hotel and was not surprised the firings took place a day after he announced the lawsuit which claims the hotel is paying its 150 or so employees at least a dollar below the $11.97 living wage ordinance as required by Los Angeles Airport area hotels.
The class action lawsuit expected to be worth in the millions of dollars also claims that workers are forced to work unpaid beyond their scheduled hours, and that some workers are forced to buy their own cleaning supplies without getting reimbursed.
Hotel management could not be reached for comment in regards to the firings and ensuing strike, but have denied the allegations brought on by the class action suit.
Quiapos said he will continue pushing the class action suit while he survives on his home-based businesses which include direct marketing.

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