Recently dismissed employees at a Jack in the Box location in Hayward protested what they said were unlawful firings during a rally last week.

Chanting “si se puede” and holding signs portraying Jack in the Box as the Grinch, about two dozen people including former employees and their supporters gathered in front of the Mission Boulevard restaurant on Wednesday claiming they were fired for being whistleblowers and going on strike Dec. 20.

The employees said they were told of their firings two days before Christmas.

The employees also filed a California Occupational Safety and Health Act (Cal/OSHA) complaint. 

In the complaint, images alleging to be from the Mission Boulevard location show flooded conditions in the kitchen area, water dripping from the roof near a freezer and sewer water flooding near what employees say is the dishwashing area.

“The store has flooded like this 5-6 times since over the past 3-4 months, every time the drains clog up,” the complaint read, accompanied by a photo allegedly taken on Dec. 13, one week before the strike.

The complaint also claims that heating and cooling do not properly work at this location.

The conditions we worked under were terrible. Claudia Romero, former Kack in the box worker

Claudia Romero, who worked at the location for about four years, said her hours were cut in “retaliation for speaking up about safety.” Romero also provided paperwork of a visit to a local hospital after she said she sustained an injury to her wrist on the job, saying it occurred while cleaning the freezer, adding that workers need to be properly trained to do these tasks.

“We need to be trained to do our jobs safely, including defrosting the freezer, and to be provided (personal protective equipment), and support to get the treatment and accommodations we need to heal from workplace injuries,” Romero said.

Romero also said that when she would bring up the issues to management, they would threaten her with being fired.

“The conditions we worked under were terrible,” Romero said. She claims she was fired three days after participating in a protest.

The manager of the location declined to comment saying it was a legal matter.