Former employees of a Dunkin’ Donuts chain in Chicago filed a class-action lawsuit against the owners Tuesday. The suit alleges the chain cheats its workers out of wages. Chicago Public Radio’s Chip Mitchell has more.

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Lawyers for five immigrants filed the suit in Cook County Circuit Court today. Then about 50 supporters picketed the Dunkin’ Donuts in the El station at 18th and Damen.

Ambi: Pickets singing and clapping.

The suit alleges illegal pay practices at that shop and six others in Chicago. Single mother Yecmin Magaña, 33, says she worked at all of them over 13 months with Dunkin’ Donuts.

MAGAÑA: Cuando empieza cada persona que empieza trabajar con ellos, así les hacen tres días de entrenamiento…

She says all new hires had to work without pay for 10 hours a day during their first three days. The suit demands back pay and interest for alleged violations over the last three years.

One of two owners named in the suit, Sanjeev Khatau, declined to comment. The other, Sanjay Bhatia, was unavailable.

Another topic at the picket was a year-old policy of Massachusetts-based Dunkin’ Brands. The policy requires all 5,000 franchises to participate in a federal program called Basic Pilot. The program uses Homeland Security and Social Security databases to see whether new hires are authorized to work in the United States. Officials admit the databases are prone to errors.

UNZUETA: Muchos patrones empiezan descubrir que tienen inmigrantes indocumentados…

Martín Unzueta of the Chicago Workers Collaborative says Dunkin’ Brands is among a growing number of companies using the program to get rid of long-time employees.

In a statement today, Dunkin’ Brands said the program provides employees an opportunity to resolve questions about their work eligibility and get proper credit for Social Security contributions.

I’m Chip Mitchell, Chicago Public Radio.