The Bay Area Burmese mini-chain Burma Superstar is the subject of a class-action lawsuit filed this week in Alameda County by three of the chain's employees on behalf of about 100 "similarly situated" current and former employees, seeking unspecified back wages as well as attorney's fees and other penalties, as the Chronicle reports.
The suit, filed by attorneys with the Asian Law Caucus, Legal Aid Society, and Centro Legal de la Raza, claims that the workers were stiffed on wages, overtime, breaks, and sick leave, as Richmond Blog notes.
According to one former dishwasher and cook, William Navarrete, who is a party to the suit, "Burma Superstar kitchen workers work very hard to make the restaurants so successful. We believe they did not pay us what we were owed. We're bringing this case to finally get the wages we think are owed to us."
Carole Vigne, an attorney and director of Legal Aid Society's Wage Protection Program, tells the East Bay Express, "Back-of-the-house workers are too often unseen and forgotten. We hope this case brings visibility to the hardworking kitchen staff who feed thousands each week."
This case follows on similar recent disputes over back wages at local restaurants, typically decided in favor of the employees, at Yank Sing, Udupi Palace, and Hong Kong Lounge I & II.
Following their original location in the Richmond district, which opened in 1992, Burma Superstar went on to open other locations in Alameda and Oakland, as well as the spinoff Burma Love in the Mission. Earlier this year we learned the company had plans for a fifth location in SoMa, at 989 Mission Street.
Reps for the restaurants have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
Previously: Burma Superstar Apparently Expanding Again, To SoMa