New York, NY —

Of the city's more than 20,000 restaurants, the majority deliver. Delivery workers have never had it easy - bad weather or the risk of robbery and injury. But now, workers are speaking up about treatment they say is illegal and they've taken action. WNYC's Kathleen Horan has more.

REPORTER: This week, 36 delivery workers filed a lawsuit against the owners of a popular Manhattan restaurant chain called Saigon Grill. They say they were paid several dollars below minimum wage and were fined from $20-$200 for making late deliveries or calling in sick. The employees are picketing to let people know about the conditions they face. Josephine Lee is with one of the groups helping the workers organize. Lee says the picketing is also having an effect on other delivery workers.

LEE: They actually tell us they are watching us everyday because they know this will impact the restaurant where they work also.

REPORTER: Lee says she's helping other restaurant workers planning to file at least several lawsuits in the next month. Owners of the Saigon Grill say they have always paid their workers fairly and reject the workers' complaints. For WNYC, I'm Kathleen Horan.