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.
STRIKE ALERT: Hundreds of Food and Beverage Workers at Sky Harbor Airport Walk Out Over Contract Dispute
Phoenix, AZ – Hundreds of food and beverage workers employed by SSP America at Sky Harbor Airport walk out on strike. Cashiers, cooks, bartenders, servers, dishwashers, and baristas from well-known airport eateries, such as Matt’s Big Breakfast, Pita Jungle, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Four Peaks Brewing Co., are on strike for better wages and benefits and plan to hold picket lines at the terminals.
Workers’ collective bargaining agreement with SSP America expired on May 31st. Despite the union’s proposals during negotiations, the company has not made significant movement on much-needed wage increases, health insurance contributions, and working conditions.
In addition, workers filed multiple federal labor charges against SSP America alleging unlawful disciplinary actions, unilateral changes, and unlawful surveillance.
Dufry Hudson Group Concession Workers at Ontario Airport on Strike!
AZ CENTRAL: Sky Harbor concession workers vote to authorize strike
Labor Day Kickoff: LAX Workers Vote 99% to Authorize Strike
“My entire family works for AREAS USA–myself, my sister, my brother, and my mom. None of us make enough money to survive,” said Cecilia Otea, barista at Urth Bar. “All of us have to work and live together to afford living in LA. I’m voting yes to strike so my entire family can have a better life.”
Workers could walk out any day starting Labor Day weekend, joining thousands of hotel workers, also represented by UNITE HERE Local 11, who have engaged in a wave of strikes since the 4th of July weekend.
STRIKE AUTHORIZED: AREAS LAX
LA TIMES: LAX food workers vote to authorize strike ahead of Labor Day weekend, pressuring tourism industry
AVIATION SOURCE: Cal/OSHA issues citations against Flying Food Group
DAY FIVE OF THE FLYING FOOD GROUP ULP STRIKE
Meet Agustin Avila. Here’s why he’s striking against unfair labor practices & low wages. “The cost of living is going up but our wages aren’t.” Sí se puede baby!
MARIA FAVELA ON STRIKE!
Flying Food Group catering workers are on strike, serving up demands for justice, a fair contract, and a stop to unfair labor practices!
STRIKE ALERT: Airline Catering Workers at Flying Food Group Walk Out on Strike
Workers walk out after allegations of federal labor violations and 9 months of failed contract negotiations
Inglewood, Calif. — Employees of Flying Food Group Inc. (FFG), a company that provides in-flight meals for many prominent international airlines at Los Angeles International Airport, went out on an unfair labor practice strike today. Cooks, porters and drivers walked out at 3 a.m. and began marching in front of the catering facility. Workers plan to hold picket lines day and night.
Tomorrow, workers will be on the second day of their strike and plan to continue it until their concerns are addressed.
Workers are striking to protest alleged unfair labor practices that FFG has committed in response to the workers’ campaign for a fair contract with decent wages and benefits. Employees have filed eight pending charges, including allegations that the company surveilled union activities, suspended an employee for his union activities and locked multiple emergency exit doors on a day workers planned a picket line protest.
“I also feel unsafe and surveilled at work,” she continued. “As we have alleged in our complaints to authorities, one morning in early February the company locked multiple exit doors, including bolting at least one shut from the outside with a metal plate, on the same day that we had organized a peaceful picket outside our workplace. We only wanted to exercise our labor rights but it felt like our employer was getting in the way of that. We are striking because FFG must respect our rights and pay us a fair wage.”
On March 15, employees voted 99 percent in favor of authorizing a strike in protest of FFG’s alleged unfair labor practices and its contract offer. The move comes on the heels of similar actions by teachers and other service workers across the region fighting for better working conditions and against unfair labor practices.
Airline catering workers’ collective bargaining agreement with FFG expired last June, and a six-month extension produced little progress during negotiations.