Cooks and cashiers at the Carl’s Jr. on Lankershim Boulevard in North Hollywood say they have had enough. The crew at the 6601 Lankershim Blvd. restaurant plans to walk off the job at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday in a one-day strike aimed at spotlighting what they describe as repeated customer assaults and alleged denials of paid sick leave. Workers say they have already filed complaints with state workplace-safety and labor authorities and intend to press the Los Angeles City Council to back a proposed Fast Food Fair Work ordinance that would add paid training, paid sick time, and scheduling rules for chain restaurants.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, employees at the restaurant report frequent harassment, robberies, and physical assaults while on the job. In their complaint, they wrote that “nearly every day we are subjected to aggressive and violent behavior by angry customers who yell at us and throw food at us,” the outlet notes. The workers also allege that management has not provided safety training or allowed them time off to recover from injuries.
Workers Say Customer Violence Is Routine
A copy of the complaint reviewed by MyNewsLA details several incidents over the past year, including a July 2025 episode in which a customer allegedly punched an employee in the face. Workers told the outlet they were often required to work while sick or still recovering from assaults, and that management’s response left them “injured and in constant fear,” according to the filing.
Ordinance at the Center of the Protest
The strike is also a pressure campaign aimed at City Hall. Employees are urging the Los Angeles City Council to pass the Fast Food Fair Work ordinance, which supporters say would extend the city’s existing Fair Work Week protections to fast-food chains. The proposal would add paid sick leave, scheduling standards, and paid rights-and-safety trainings for workers.
As laid out in public comments on the Los Angeles City Clerk, backers have called for at least six hours of paid training, stronger scheduling rules and clearer enforcement mechanisms. They argue those changes are needed so fast-food employees can report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation…