Seasonal Cannery Workers Forced to Quarantine in LA Hotel Without Pay

Close to 150 seasonal cannery workers were forced into quarantine at a Los Angeles hotel. About 150 workers were hired from Mexico and Southern California on June 2nd to work in North Pacific Seafoods’ Red Salmon Cannery in Naknek, Alaska. The group was scheduled to work through August 2020.

Seasonal Workers Forced to Quarantine Due to Coronavirus

According to the lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court, the salmon cannery seasonal workers were forced to quarantine without pay at a Los Angeles hotel after three of the 150 tested positive for coronavirus. Instead of earning the expected three months’ of vital wages, the seasonal workers have been stuck at the Crowne Plaza hotel since June 10th. Since North Pacific Seafoods had not seen the lawsuit, they did not comment on the suit. Still, they did say that Alaskan authorities issued orders requiring a 14-day control quarantine followed by coronavirus testing before anyone could work at a seafood processing plant in the state.

Workers Under Forced Quarantine at Crowne Plaza LAX

Crowne Plaza LAX, where the group is under forced quarantine, stated that they do not comment on pending litigation, but that they prioritize the health and safety of all guests and hotel workers. The hotel’s spokesperson wanted to clarify that the hotel did not prevent any guest from leaving the property and that all guests were provided safe, comfortable lodgings, including three full meals each day. 

Seasonal Workers Were In Transit to Work at Alaska Cannery

Pacific Seafoods is based in Seattle, Washington. Each summer, the company hires hundreds of seasonal workers from all over the world to fill temporary jobs at the Naknek cannery in Alaska. Seasonal workers are typically promised round-trip transportation to and from the point of hire, plus room and board. This year, seasonal workers were sent to the LAX hotel for coronavirus testing before leaving for the cannery. When they arrived at the hotel, they had to wait in a crowded hallway and fill out paperwork (sharing pens). The group remained in close proximity for close to six hours, according to the lawsuit.

All 150 Workers Required to Quarantine After a Few Positive Test Results:

Four days later, coronavirus test results came back, and three of the workers had positive results. As a result, quarantine was extended for all 150 workers until June 25th. At that time, workers were advised that they would not be paid during the quarantine. The plaintiffs allege that the hotel deactivated their keycards, and they could no longer come and go. The seasonal workers also claim they were warned that leaving their rooms would mean immediate termination. 

Plaintiffs claim that since the forced quarantine began, they have been provided with no more than two meals per day, are prohibited from leaving the premises for additional food or supplies, and are barred from accessing hotel room service or other hotel services. Plaintiffs allege false imprisonment, nonpayment of wages, failure to pay minimum wage, failure to pay overtime, negligence, and unlawful business practices. Legal counsel for the plaintiffs plans to seek a temporary restraining order within the week to get the workers immediate payment.

If you have questions about California labor law violations or how employment law applies to your workplace, please get in touch with Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik DeBlouw LLP. Experienced employment law attorneys are ready to assist you in any one of various law firm offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside, and Chicago.