New York, NY —

A group of former janitors is suing two C-Town Supermarkets in the Bronx for allegedly locking them overnight.

The three janitors used to clean the floors at the supermarkets. They say managers would lock them in and not let them out until the store opened in the morning. The alleged practice violates fire safety codes. Attorney Amy Carroll represents the workers and says most New Yorkers don't realize their local supermarkets are getting cleaned by these overnight workers

We're saying this is no longer an invisible problem and the stores have a responsibility to ensure that anybody who works overnight has a safe way to get out.

The two C-towns are independently owned are located at 171st street and Jerome Avenue and at 3220 Third Avenue. Managers at both locations deny the allegations. The lawsuit seeks at least $400-thousand in damages and an injunction against locking workers in.

for WNYC: I'm Cindy Rodriguez