Hotel employee Diana Nufio filed a class action lawsuit today against the Irvine Hilton for allegedly violating the city’s recently adopted hotel worker protection ordinance that went into effect in December.

The lawsuit alleges that the hotel failed to comply with the ordinance by not providing functioning panic buttons, failed to implement daily room cleaning and failed to pay maids double for exceeding the limits set by the law.

“Hilton Irvine’s violations were knowing and intentional, and constitute unfair business practices which have deprived employees of their rights under California and local labor laws in order to reduce payroll costs and increase profits,” reads the lawsuit complaint provided by Nufio’s attorney.

It also alleges that the hotel failed to hire 24-hour security to respond to panic calls, failed to provide training for workers and did not post the required notice of the law for months in guest rooms and bathrooms.

Hilton Hotels did not respond to an email request for comment Thursday.

The lawsuit comes as hotel workers across Southern California, including at the Hilton in Irvine, overwhelmingly voted earlier this month to authorize a strike over pay – citing rising housing costs – amid contract negotiations.

[Read: Southern California Hotel Workers Authorize Strike]

Hotel employees represented by Unite Here Local 11 could walkout anytime this holiday weekend, according to a union official.

Lauren Teukolsky, the lawyer representing Nufio, said in a...

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