File photo. 

Hotel employees of the Long Beach Westin have filed a class action lawsuit against the hotel, alleging wage theft and work hour violations that include off-the-clock work, they announced today. 

The lawsuit, brought by workers of the Westin Hotel, who are represented by the law firms ALEXANDER KRAKOW + GLICK and the Law Offices of Kyle Todd, names the hotel’s operator, Noble-Interstate Management Group California and Interstate Hotels and Resorts as defendants. 

It alleges that workers were expected to work outside of hours stipulated in their contract without the legally-mandated breaks, purchase their own cleaning equipment and conduct work such as cleaning hotel rooms in a degrading manner. 

“Although my work shift doesn’t begin until 8:00AM, I am expected to start working well before that to prepare my cart with all the cleaning supplies that I will need throughout the day,” stated Plaintiff Juana Melara, a housekeeper, in a statement. “I also have purchased gloves to better protect my hands and have brought my own cleaning supplies from home because the hotel doesn’t provide what is necessary for me to clean all of the rooms, even though I am expected to leave each one of them spotless.”

Representatives of the Westin and Noble-Interstate Management Group California were not available for comment at the time of publication. 

“Since the restaurant is so understaffed, I have to do the job of three people,” said plaintiff Rosa Casarrubias, a banquet server, in a statement. “I can’t take my breaks and I even skip going to the restroom because I have to be on the floor attending to guests.”

Hotel workers also filed a lawsuit against the Renaissance, alleging similar violations, as the Post reported in June. The lawsuit was filed after numerous demonstrations by hotel employees in front of both hotels, outside of City Hall and at the People’s State of the City

Hotel management has yet to comment on the protests or lawsuits.