UNITE HERE local 11 represents hospitality workers in five major airports in Southern California and Arizona. We represent servers, baristas, cooks, bartenders and other concession and retail workers at LAX, Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, John Wayne Airport, Long Beach Airport, and the Ontario Airport.
Our members work for HMS Host, SSP, Hudson News, Areas, Paradies, to name a few. We also represent airline catering workers who work for Sky Chefs and Flying Food Group.
BREAKING NEWS: Defend the Wage LA Coalition Demands City Clerk Invalidate Referendum Petition to Overturn the Olympic Wage
LOS ANGELES: The Defend the Wage LA Coalition, which includes UNITE HERE Local 11, SEIU-United Service Workers West (USWW), and LAANE, is calling on the City Clerk to throw out the referendum to overturn the Olympic Wage based on allegations of the campaign’s brazen deception of voters, violence, and other gross misconduct.
The referendum campaign, funded by Delta, United, and members of the American Hotel and Lodging Association including Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott, misled countless voters by claiming the petition would increase wages, when it would actually overturn a recently-enacted minimum wage increase. Many volunteers have also accused signature gatherers of violence against canvassers seeking to keep the Olympic Wage intact. The referendum signature gatherers even set up shop in Skid Row, allegedly paying cash to unhoused people to register to vote and sign the referendum petition. Delta is an inaugural founding partner of the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics and official airline of Team USA.
A record of more than 115,000 Angelenos have submitted forms to revoke their signatures on the referendum petition when they learned the petition would actually upend the Olympic Wage. Given the evidence of gross misconduct and revocations, the coalition is calling upon the City Clerk to invalidate the petition altogether.
The Defend the Wage LA Coalition has mounted a major public campaign to educate the public about the referendum, report misconduct by its circulators, and assist voters who signed the petition based on false representations about its purpose to revoke their signatures. Hundreds of Angelenos have joined in the effort, calling a 24-hour hotline and responding to thousands of emails and text messages, with tens of thousands signing revocation forms.
“The greed of the airlines and hotels was only outdone by their deceit and desperation. The City Clerk should invalidate the petition,” said Kurt Petersen co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 and David Huerta president of SEIU-USWW. “They would rather spend millions of dollars deceiving voters than pay workers a living wage and quality healthcare, but we are proving once again that working class solidarity is more powerful than money.”
“When we spoke to our community, they understood us and saw through what the industry was trying to do. Housing affordability is out of reach for so many working families across the region, and their support means the world,” said Maria Rubio, worker at Flying Food Group, an airline catering company that prepares and packages meals for international flights out of LAX.
“Corporations’ attempts to deceive Angelenos into signing the CEOs petition didn’t work because we mobilized, organized, and educated our communities on what was at stake: living wages and healthcare for essential workers. In the end, no matter how many underhanded tactics corporations try to use, we, the essential workers that make LAX and the region’s economy run, will win,” said Jovan Houston, LAX customer service agent and SEIU-USWW executive board member.
“Our coalition, which fought alongside tourism workers for over two years at City Hall, has only grown since we heard that corporations were trying to claw back workers’ hard-won wages and health care,” said Jessica Durrum, Policy Director at LAANE. “It’s been remarkable and inspiring to see so many Angelenos heed the call by volunteering, making calls, and helping to spread the word, all to defend their neighbors’ access to health care and decent wages. We’re hopeful that the City Clerk will do the right thing and invalidate the petition.”
The outrageous activity of signature gatherers has engendered a flurry of complaints. Most recently, this Thursday, UNITE HERE Local 11 submitted extensive evidence to the offices of the City Clerk and the City Attorney to support allegations that circulators for the referendum egregiously misrepresented the content and effect of the referendum petition to voters, committed violence or threats of violence against canvassers seeking to educate the public about its actual content, and committed other serious misconduct. This mountain of evidence demonstrates why the petition should be rejected.
Earlier this week, UNITE HERE Local 11 submitted a complaint to California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower alleging that the companies collecting signatures for the referendum may have engaged in labor trafficking in violation of California law by inducing some signature gatherers to come to work in Los Angeles from other states by falsely claiming the petition was to increase the minimum wage.
Earlier in June, Local 11 filed a complaint with City Attorney Feldstein Soto and other agencies alleging that paid signature gatherers for the petition have obtained signatures by falsely claiming that the petition would increase workers’ wages. It also alleged that referendum signature-gatherers have repeatedly engaged in violent or threatening behavior. In one case, a witness alleges that he was violently assaulted and punched in the face by a referendum petition circulator.
As a result, Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto Martinez introduced a motion to call on the Los Angeles Police Department and the City Attorney to investigate the claims, which was subsequently passed by the Economic Development and Jobs Committee.
In addition, over thirty elected officials, including State Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez, Senators Maria Elena Durazo and Lola Smallwood Cuevas, Assembly Majority Whip Mark Gonzalez, and Assemblymembers Isaac G. Bryan, Tina McKinnor, Mike Gipson and Avelino Valencia sent a letter and demanded that the companies “stop funding this distortion of the democratic process in Los Angeles.”
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The Defend The Wage LA coalition is composed of UNITE HERE Local 11, SEIU-USWW, and Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE).
PRESS RELEASE: Pressure Mounts on California Attorney General Bonta and Los Angeles City Attorney Feldstein Soto as Over Thirty Elected Officials Sign Letter Demanding Hotels and Airlines Cease Deceitful Conduct in their Anti-Living Wage Referendum Campaign in LA
Los Angeles, CA: Over thirty elected officials, including State Senate Majority Leader Lena Gonzalez, Senators Maria Elena Durazo and Lola Smallwood Cuevas, Assembly Majority Whip Mark Gonzalez, and Assemblymembers Isaac G. Bryan, Tina McKinnor, Mike Gipson and Avelino Valencia sent a letter today demanding that airline and hotel CEOs stop funding the deceitful campaign to overturn the Olympic Wage passed in the City of Los Angeles for tourism workers.
In the letter addressed to the CEOs of Delta Airlines, United Airlines, the American Hotel and Lodging Association, and AHLA members Hilton and Marriott, elected leaders demanded that the companies “stop funding this distortion of the democratic process in Los Angeles.” Elected officials say they will hold CEOs “accountable for any potential liability for this alleged misconduct and other criminal acts.” The letter was also sent to Attorney General Rob Bonta and Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto.
Over the two years since the Olympic Wage ordinance was introduced, the combined compensation of Delta, United, Hilton, and Marriott’s CEOs reached over $330 million. In just 2024, each of these CEOs’ raises ranged from 155% to over 602% of what they made in 2022. Meanwhile, over the same two years, the minimum wage of tourism workers rose an average of $1.35 an hour.
California State Senator Maria Elena Durazo said, “This attempt to undermine the will of the people and deny hardworking hotel and airport employees a living wage is shameful. These corporations would rather spend millions fighting against fair pay than ensure their workers can afford to live in the city they serve. We will stand with our union brothers and sisters and fight tirelessly to ensure these vital wage increases are implemented, allowing Angelenos to earn enough to support their families and contribute to our local economy.”
The letter follows a complaint filed last week alleging that paid signature gatherers for the petition funded by these companies have falsely claimed that the petition would increase workers’ wages, when the referendum actually seeks to overturn a recently passed minimum wage law. The complaint was filed with the offices of the California Attorney General, Los Angeles District Attorney and Los Angeles City Attorney by the hotel workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 11. Earlier this week, a motion introduced by Los Angeles City Councilmember Hugo Soto Martinez calling on the Los Angeles Police Department and the City Attorney to investigate the claims passed the Economic Development and Jobs Committee.
The complaint alleges that instead of honestly communicating with the public about the initiative’s purpose of eliminating the new minimum wage, signature gatherers have flagrantly deceived voters to sign the petition by claiming the initiative is to “increase the minimum wage,” turn a “temporary wage increase into a permanent one” and making other false or misleading claims. The complaint alleges that in some cases, signature gatherers were themselves deceived by the initiative organizers into believing the petition was to raise the minimum wage.
The complaint also alleges that some signature gatherers have failed to disclose the initiatives’ top funders in the materials they used to recruit voters to sign. The failure to carry such disclosures violates state and local election law. Lastly, the complaint alleges that referendum signature-gatherers have repeatedly engaged in violent or threatening behavior. In one case, a witness alleges that he was violently assaulted and punched in the face by a referendum petition circulator.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE ANYBODY GATHERING SIGNATURES FOR THE ANTI-WORKER PETITION
LA TIMES: Union launches dueling ballot measures, escalating fight over L.A.’s tourism worker wage hike
PRESS RELEASE: Hospitality Union Files Initiative Petitions to Raise LA Minimum Wage to $30/hour for All Workers and Require Voter Approval of Hotel and Event Center Subsidies
Los Angeles, California. Representatives of the hotel workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 11, submitted paperwork late Monday with the Los Angeles City Clerk to file two voter initiatives.
The first initiative would boost the citywide minimum wage to $25.00 an hour initially and raise the minimum wage to $30 an hour on July 1, 2028, when the Olympics and Paralympic Games are scheduled to start in Los Angeles.
Last month, the City Council passed an ordinance with similar minimum wage increases for tourism workers, dubbed the Olympic Wage. Major corporations, including United Airlines, Delta Airlines, and hotel chains launched a costly campaign to overturn the law, arguing that all workers—not only tourism workers—should get wage increases. The new initiative proposes to extend the wage increases to workers in all industries across the city.
The second initiative would require voter approval for hotel and event center development projects in which the City grants subsidies, such as tax rebates or below-market prices for city-owned land, to developers. It would also require voter approval for major hotel developments involving 80 or more guest rooms or event center developments adding more than 50,000 square feet or 1,000 seats and require that the City Council make findings that the developments are compatible with and beneficial to the local community.
In addition, the union and its allies have launched massive field efforts to “Defend The Wage LA” and inform the public of misleading signature-gathering efforts in the campaign led by the tourism industry to overturn the Olympic Wage. A complaint filed last week alleges that paid signature-gatherers for a petition funded by Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt have falsely claimed that the petition would increase workers’ wages when the referendum actually seeks to overturn the recently passed tourism minimum wage law. The complaint was filed with the offices of the California Attorney General, Los Angeles District Attorney and Los Angeles City Attorney by the hotel workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 11.
“Tourism corporations often get massive subsidies from taxpayers. But we question whether big companies that find tens of millions to pay their CEOs each year and are now spending millions more to overturn a minimum wage hike for their lowest-paid workers really need these subsidies. At the very least, voters should get a say on whether their tax dollars should be handed over to these corporations,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11.
Petersen added: “Since the initiative advances the position proclaimed by these big tourism companies like United, Delta, and hotel owners that all workers need an increase, we expect them to promptly get on board and endorse the new minimum wage initiative.”
LA TIMES: Push to block L.A.’s tourism wage hike has been misleading, union alleges
DEFEND THE WAGE PRESS CONFERENCE
Don’t let the airport and hotels CEOs’ deceptive ballot initiative take money out of the pockets of hard-working LA families! If someone approaches you to sign a ballot measure this month, DON’T SIGN. Instead, report their location at defendthewage.la or by calling (909) 326-0042. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!
LA DAILY NEWS: LA tourism workers rally against referendum to overturn $30 minimum wage
PRESS RELEASE: Tourism Workers Launch “Defend The Wage LA” Campaign for $30 Olympic Wage and Other Protections Against Billionaire Bosses’ Misleading Petition
Los Angeles: Over a hundred room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, airline catering and airport workers, volunteers and allies announced massive field efforts “Defend The Wage LA” to inform the public of the misleading petition led by the tourism industry to overturn the Olympic Wage.
Workers are urging voters not to sign the misleading petition and encouraging the public to report any petition gatherers online or by calling the Defend The Wage hotline at 909-326-0042.
“I didn’t fight for over two years for this wage because I want to buy another yacht like the CEO’s backing the phony petition. I fought for the Olympic wage so that I could keep a roof over my head and provide for my family back in Honduras. I am planning to move to Louisiana with my husband because the $20.63 is not enough, living in Los Angeles is becoming more impossible every day.” said Maria Torres, dishwasher at Flying Food Group, an airline catering company that prepares meals for international flights out of LAX and member of UNITE HERE Local 11. “I will be out there every day educating voters about the bosses’ phony petition and urging them to not sign.”
“We stand at another biblical moment in our historic fight – David versus Goliath. Delta and United Airlines—along with the hotel industry—want to steal wages from workers by erasing this critical law. Let’s call it what it is: grand theft larceny by modern-day robber barons. Workers and volunteers will be at every grocery store, park, farmers market and neighborhood defending the Olympic Wage and asking voters to not sign. If you see the anti-Olympic Wage petition circulators, report them!” said Kurt Petersen, Co-President UNITE HERE Local 11.
Rather than paying workers what they deserve, the industry which has already spent over 1 million dollars to stop their workers from earning a livable wage, is expected to spend millions more on this referendum. The efforts have major funding from Delta Airlines, United Airlines and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Over the two years since the ordinance was introduced, the combined compensation of Delta, United, Hilton, and Marriott’s CEOs reached over $330 million. In just 2024, each of these CEOs’ raises ranged from 155% to over 602% of what they made in 2022. Meanwhile, over two years the minimum wage of tourism workers rose an average of $1.35 an hour.
“The airlines and hotels would rather spend millions to overturn the living wage than give workers a dime now,” said David Huerta, President of SEIU United Service Workers West. “These are billion-dollar companies fighting to make sure that working families in L.A. don’t get a raise. Don’t be complicit. Don’t sign the CEO’s petition.”
“My co-workers and I spent two years trying to get this ordinance passed while still working long shifts at LAX. We missed time with our families and loved ones,” said Jovan Houston, a Customer Service Agent at LAX. “It’s heartbreaking to learn that the airlines, which we work so hard to make successful, would spend millions of dollars to make sure we get nothing.”
“We’ve beaten back these dirty tricks before,” said Jessica Durrum, Director of LAANE’s Tourism Workers Rising coalition. “For the past 30 years, we have seen big business and corporate lobbyists try to overturn hard-won living wage protections. And time and again, we’ve shown that when workers and the community stand together, we can and will uphold our living wage laws to ensure workers are healthy and housed.”
Airport and hotel workers fought hard to pass the Olympic Wage of $30 by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Workers marched, picketed, occupied city hall, and met council members for two years to win this historic wage to lift up hospitality workers across the city. Last December workers fasted for days to pass the Olympic and Paralympic Wage.
This is not the first time UNITE HERE Local 11 has led the way in passing historically strong living wage laws for tourism workers. In 2016 they increased wages for hotel workers in Santa Monica, 2021 in West Hollywood, in 2022 in the City of Glendale and in 2024 voters in Long Beach passed a similar wage increase.
PRESS RELEASE: Third Woman Alleges Sexual Harassment Against Flying Food Group at LAX, File Complaints Againts Airline Catering Giant
Inglewood, CA: A third woman has filed a complaint against Flying Food Group, an airline catering giant LAX following two other women who did the same last month. All three are alleging that Flying Food Group failed to protect them from sexual harassment and gender discrimination on the job
In November of last year, two women employees of Flying Food Group, Nelly Hernandez and Sandra Ruiz, filed charges with the California Civil Rights Department alleging that they were subject to repeated sexual advances by their supervisor, including in the form of sexual comments, inappropriate staring, and multiple instances of unwanted physical touching at work.
Earlier this week, Patricia Hernandez Marquez, a former employee of Flying Food Group, joined Miss. Hernandez and Ruiz by filing her own charges, which allege that the same supervisor harassed her while she worked for Flying Food and drove her to quit.
The women are asking the Civil Rights Department to investigate Flying Foods Group’s practices, including whether the conduct they have alleged constitutes illegal discrimination under California law.
Nelly Hernandez stated, “My supervisor has caused me to feel unsafe at work. I’m afraid to clean the upstairs areas by myself in case he’ll find me there. I stopped wearing perfume to work after all his comments. I decided that I needed to do something. Others need to know what is happening and that they, too, can combat this kind of injustice in their workplaces.”
Sandra Ruiz said, “After all that my supervisor has done, I feel anxious just to see him at work. I get headaches and stomach aches and have lost weight in recent months. The stress I feel having to come into work every day is too much for me to handle some days. After I learned about my co-workers speaking out, I knew I wasn’t alone. I decided I had to come forward and demand respect, too, so that this stops happening.”
“This is not the first time Flying Food has been accused of failing to protect its employees,” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, the union that represents all complainants. “Time and again, workers have raised complaints about sex discrimination and other issues to the company. It’s time for Flying Food to own up to its responsibility to the workers and hold management accountable for this kind of behavior. No woman should have to work under the kind of harassment Nelly, Sandra, and Patricia have described.”
“Sexual harassment and discrimination isn’t just humiliating to workers,” said Jennifer Reisch, supervising attorney for the University of California at Irvine’s Workers Law and Organizing Clinic, which filed the charges on behalf of Flying Food employees. “It also can be a tool for employers to divide workers and undermine their efforts at organizing and building solidarity in the workplace.”
Workers at Flying Food Group have been embroiled in a labor dispute since April 2023, when they went on strike for 28 days. Since that time, labor negotiations have continued to drag on without an agreement. The company has also been at the center of numerous legal battles; last month, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board announced that it would be moving to trial on seven unfair labor practices charges filed against the company, while a dozen more unfair labor practice charges remain under investigation. Flying Food Group also paid out $1.2 million in damages earlier this year to employees for failing to recall them in a timely manner after the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with the states’ Right to Recall law.