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Archive for category: AIRLINE CATERING

PRESS RELEASE: Two Women Sue Flying Food Group Over Alleged Sexual Assaults

Lawsuit alleges the retaliatory termination of one of the two women; a third worker has filed a state civil rights complaint against the company alleging harassment by the same manager

LOS ANGELES — Two women employed at Flying Food Group’s facility serving Los Angeles International Airport filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court today alleging that the then-Executive Chef of its hot kitchen sexually assaulted them.

The complaint alleges that the manager invited the women to go drinking with him at the end of a long shift while they were still at Flying Food’s facility, directed them from the workplace to a vacant, unfurnished house he owned, where he plied them with alcohol for hours – while drinking little himself – and then sexually assaulted each of them in an empty room in the back of the house.

The complaint also alleges that the manager at one point told a coworker that he was going to “f*** them all,” referring to women he supervised in the kitchen.

The complaint further alleges that in the months that followed the assault, the manager subjected both women to escalating and selective discipline at work – and that in late August 2026, after one of the women took steps signaling that she intended to pursue legal action, Flying Food Group terminated her employment.

“Even though it is hard, I am coming forward because what happened to us should never happen to any woman who just wants to do her job. Flying Food Group needs to be held accountable,” said Zayra Lopez, one of the women bringing the lawsuit.

“I am doing this for my daughter.  If God forbid something like this ever happened to her, I would want her to feel like she could come forward,” said Estefania Amador, the other plaintiff in the case.

A third worker has also filed a complaint against Flying Food Group with the California Civil Rights Department, alleging that the same manager repeatedly propositioned her at work over a period of months – advances she rebuffed every time. The complaint alleges that she, too, was recently terminated.

“I commend my clients for their courage in coming forward and speaking publicly about their allegations of sexual assault at the hands of their supervisor,” said Lauren Teukolsky, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. According to the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC), 70% of individuals who experience sexual harassment never report it.

Six other women previously came forward with allegations that they experienced sexual harassment at Flying Food Group’s LAX facility – including several who alleged that, after coming forward, they were subjected to discipline, suspension, and threats of termination.

Flying Food Group has prepared food at LAX for airlines including Air France, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, ANA, Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Air New Zealand, among others. The company is only permitted to operate at Los Angeles International Airport under a special license issued by the City of Los Angeles. That license is currently up for renewal, and Los Angeles World Airports is investigating the company’s compliance record following a February request by Mayor Karen Bass.

The filings come amid mounting government scrutiny of the company’s operations at LAX. Over the last several years, five different government agencies — Cal/OSHA, the California Labor Commissioner, the California Highway Patrol, the National Labor Relations Board, and the City of Los Angeles’ Bureau of Contract Administration — have issued citations or complaints against the company for violations of worker protection and public safety laws, including workplace safety violations, wage theft, and unfair labor practices.

Most recently, on May 20, 2026, Cal/OSHA issued six new Citations and Notifications of Penalty to the company, including four classified as “serious,” carrying $74,000 in total proposed penalties. Those citations followed a fire at the company’s Inglewood facility on January 22, 2026, during which, according to a complaint filed with Cal/OSHA, two workers were found inside a cold storage room whose entrance door had been chained shut from the outside. At each of the company’s two facilities serving LAX, Cal/OSHA cited a serious violation for failing to ensure that cold storage rooms could be opened from the inside — the same hazard for which the agency first cited the company in 2023.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are represented by Lauren Teukolsky of Teukolsky Law and Jeremy Blasi of UNITE HERE Local 11.

Hailin Shan Won His Job Back!

Hailin Shan, a cook who led other cooks in the 2023 Flying Food strike and was fired on July 2023. Through arbitration it was determined that there was “no just cause to terminate” and the arbitrator ordered the company to bring him back to work with full back pay. Hailin will now return to the Flying Food kitchen to resume working there. He will also be getting backpay going all the way to his termination date in July 2023. Welcome back Hailin!

SkyChefs workers are fighting for quality healthcare

Workers picketed the American Airlines terminal protesting their SkyChefs contract. These workers are fighting for quality healthcare at LAX!

BREAKING NEWS: Airline Caterer Flying Food Group with Record of Worker Abuse Receives “Yellow Card,” Placed on 6-Month Probation by City of LA

LOS ANGELES, CA.  In the wake of numerous complaints about worker safety and other abuses, the body that runs LAX – Los Angeles World Airports or “LAWA” – has decided to put a major airline caterer for international flights, Flying Food Group, on a status akin to probation.

Companies serving LAX must obtain a special permit called a Certified Service Provider License from the City.  Complying with worker protections is a condition of such licenses, which have historically been granted for periods of five years.

Flying Food Group has been embroiled in controversy for years, as five different government agencies issued citations or complaints against the company for issues ranging from paying workers less than the minimum wage to serious safety hazards.

In response to persistent complaints from workers, LAWA has now decided to deny FFG an ordinary five-year license, and instead issue the company a conditional term for a period of just six months.  It is expected that LAX will continue an ongoing investigation of FFG’s record during this period to determine whether the conditional license should be continued.

Given this development, major airlines that have been sourcing from FFG–including Virgin Atlantic, Air New Zealand, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss Airways, ANA, Japan Airlines, and Qantas–may need to look to alternative suppliers for their inflight meals.

Serving the airport is a lucrative business, with Certified Service Provider License holders collectively making close to a half billion dollars a year. Flying Food Group is one of the highest-grossing of these companies, making $112 million in revenue in FY 2025.

In April 2026, the Board of Airport Commissioners granted LAWA staff the authority to approve new 5-year terms for all 77 firms that have entered into Certified Service Provider Licenses.  LAWA staff  created three categories for license renewal: five-year renewals for low risk companies and industries, one-year renewals for companies and industries with higher risk and six-month probationary renewals that require more in-depth review.

LAX placed Flying Food Group in the final category, which workers have taken to calling the “penalty box.”  The move follows years of worker complaints to City leaders by Flying Food Group workers, who have raised concerns about alleged wage theft, retaliation, sexual harassment, and other issues at 48 LAWA meetings.

Over the last several months, two separate reports have detailed the company’s long record of labor abuse: one report co-authored by the former Deputy Director General of the International Labor Organization–and another report endorsed by a Truth Commission of major labor and civil rights leaders and experts.

Most recently, last month Cal/OSHA issued the company four new citations it deemed “serious,” including two citations for failing to ensure that workers could exit cold storage rooms–a hazard for which it was previously cited and which led to a near tragedy during a fire in January in which two workers were found in a cooler room that had been locked from the outside.

Workers and labor leaders reacted to the decision as a positive step in the efforts to hold City licensees accountable for worker abuse, while at the same time urging the City to LAWA and Mayor Karen Bass to now revoke Flying Foods Group’s conditional license.

Elisa Valencia, a worker at Flying Food Group, said:
“I am glad the City has taken this step to begin to hold FFG accountable. We work hard serving travelers and we deserve to work in conditions that do not endanger our lives.”

Susan Minato, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11, said:
“No company is above the law. For years, Flying Food Group workers have courageously spoken out about unsafe conditions, wage theft, and a culture that puts profits ahead of people.  We’re now finally seeing the City begin to listen to their cries for help.  But while this is an important first step, the truth is that this company has committed more ‘red cards’ at this point than any we’ve ever seen and they have no business operating at LAX.”

The City of Los Angeles has already issued six determinations finding Flying Food Group or its subcontractors in violation of the airport minimum wage ordinance and is currently investigating an additional complaint. Since 2017, the company has settled two wage theft class-action lawsuits totaling more than $4.5 million.

Today’s decision represents a significant step forward for airline catering workers who have spent years demanding safer workplaces, legal compliance, and accountability from one of LAX’s largest service providers. Workers will continue to organize until full accountability is reached.

European Trade Unions Pledge Support for Flying Food Group Workers at LAX and SFO

On May 21, 2026, the European Transport Workers’ Federation’s Civil Aviation Section passed a resolution committing to mobilize in support of over 1,000 Flying Food Group workers at LAX and SFO, who have been struggling to improve their working conditions. The European trade unions involved represent workers at a majority of the airlines that source from FFG in Los Angeles and San Francisco, including Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Polish Airlines, KLM, ITA, Scandinavian SAS, TAP Air Portugal, and Cargolux.

The resolution was strongly backed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which is coordinating solidarity between UNITE HERE and global aviation unions including those in Europe. European aviation unions affiliated to the ETF and ITF will directly engage with airlines contracting with FFG at LAX and SFO, invoking their obligations under national and EU law.

Flying Food Workers go to City Hall

Workers at Flying Food Group went to Los Angeles City Hall to ask that their employer be held accountable.

A report recently found that Flying Food Group, which is licensed with the city of Los Angeles, violated its human rights commitments to workers who feed passengers traveling through LAX.

Sign the following petition!

San Francisco Standard: Chained shut: Airline food workers describe being locked in cooler as fire raged outside

The January fire was the latest in a string of alleged safety issues at Flying Food Group. Over the past five years, workers, their union, and state and federal agencies tasked with regulating the company have repeatedly raised concerns about working conditions at the LAX facility and others in San Francisco and Hawaii.

PRESS RELEASE: Airline Catering Workers Testify at Public Truth Commission on Working Conditions at LAX Facility

Workers serving international airlines speak out for the first time alongside labor and community leaders hosted by Holman United Methodist Church

LOS ANGELES, CA — This week, airline catering workers employed by Flying Food Group at Los Angeles International Airport publicly shared their experiences before a Truth Commission composed of community leaders at Holman United Methodist Church.

Over several hours of often emotional testimony testimony before the Commission, more than a dozen Flying Food Group workers and advocates described unsafe conditions, wage theft and poverty wages, sexual harassment, labor violations, and retaliation for speaking out.

Flying Food Group workers are responsible for preparing and packaging meals and beverages for international airlines including Japan Airlines, ANA, Lufthansa, and Air France—serving thousands of passengers traveling through LAX each day. Despite playing a critical role in global travel, many workers say their voices have long gone unheard.

Many workers described safety hazards, including a number than were the subject of citations from the state’s enforcement agency, Cal/OSHA.

“Water mixed with bleach splashed into my eyes, and I felt a severe burning sensation. I reported the incident to my supervisor, who told me to go to the restroom to wash my eyes, because the designated eyewash station was completely blocked by flight carts and, furthermore, did not contain the specialized water required for eye irrigation. My doctor told me that I could have gone blind if it had reached my cornea,” said Sonia Ceron, dishwasher at Flying Food Group for 8 years. “Flying Food Group is a company that does not value us; we deserve to feel safe. I hope that you, the commissioners, can hear us.”

Over the last several years, five different government agencies have issued citations or complaints against Flying Food Group for labor or safety violations.  These include six citations by the City of Los Angeles for violations of the airport minimum wage by it or its staffing agencies; six citations by Cal/OSHA for violations of workplace safety rules; 10 citations by California Highway Patrol for operating heavy trucks without proper licenses and other issues; a citation by the California Labor Commissioner for violating the state’s post-Covid right-to-return-to–work law; and a complaint by the National Labor Relations Board for violating federal labor laws through threats, surveillance, interrogations and retaliation.  These citations and other complaints were presented to the Truth Commission over the course of the hearing.

Commissioners included Yvonne Wheeler, President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor; Rev. William Smart Jr, President and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Southern California; Frank Lima, General Secretary-Treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters; Kevin Riley, Director of the UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program; Will Mitchell, District Director for California State Assembly District 61. Assemblymember Tina McKinnor; and Chloe Osmer, Executive Director of the Maintenance Cooperation Trust Fund, and leading authority on workers rights and wage theft.

Truth Commissioner Yvonne Wheeler, said: “I call on the City of Los Angeles not to renew the license of Flying Food Group. Get somebody else in. Through it all these workers showed their strength. Their fight is not just about one workplace. 
It’s about respect. It’s about dignity, it’s about justice, for all working people.”

Truth Commissioner Rev. William Smart Jr,  said, “ We cannot just hear a scared story, a scared story calls you into action,  we are called into action today! The Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California will walk with you and fight with you and be there for you!”

Truth Commissioner Kevin Riley said  “What I saw in this room are workers demanding what the law already guarantees them and striving to hold an employer accountable to their legal responsibilities. You are sounding an important alarm — so that we don’t end up with our own Triangle Shirtwaist disaster. I applaud your courage in speaking out, and I stand with you in your efforts.”

Truth Commissioner Will Mitchell, said, ”What happens at LAX doesn’t stay at LAX,  it reflects the standards we are willing to accept for workers across California. Your voices have been heard and will be taken very seriously by Assemblymember McKinnor and her office.”

Truth Commissioner Chloe Osmer, said “We heard today from workers at Flying Food Group about the devastating impact of wage theft on their lives. We heard from workers about repeated violations by Flying Food Group of the Living Wage Ordinance in LA. It’s called Living Wage for a reason, because you can’t live on less.”

The Flying Food Group Truth Commission

Airline catering workers employed by Flying Food Group at Los Angeles International Airport publicly shared their experiences before a Truth Commission at Holman United Methodist Church. Hundreds of workers and community leaders came together to share powerful truths on safety, sexual harassment, and retaliation at the workplace . Fifteen speakers told their stories that had been waiting to be heard and shared. Tellingly, the church where we held the Truth Commission was the church where our beloved our Reverend James Lawson was the pastor.

BREAKING NEWS: On Eve of Trial, Flying Food Group Admits to Violating Worker Rights, in Settlement of Major Labor Case

Airline caterer for international flights has also been cited for wage theft, unsafe conditions, and other labor violations, despite license to operate from City of Los Angeles

Los Angeles: Today, Flying Food Group, an airline caterer for major airlines that has been at the center of controversy for allegations of unsafe conditions and labor abuse, agreed to settle a high-profile case at the National Labor Relations Board.

In a highly unusual step, Flying Food Group was required to admit that it had violated workers’ federal labor law protections as part of the settlement.  The outcome is considered a major victory for workers who have been speaking out about what they have alleged is abusive treatment at work.

The day before Flying Food Group workers testified at LA City Council about the fire they experienced in their workplace in January, which coincidentally was the 115th anniversary of the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. This fire was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in U.S. history, causing the deaths of 146 garment workers—123 women and girls and 23 men. UNITE HERE is a proud successor union to the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the union to which some Triangle factory workers belonged.

In December 2024, following a two year investigation, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board issued a multi-part complaint against the airline caterer alleging numerous labor violations.  The case was set for trial on March 31, which will now be averted due to the settlement.

Under the settlement, after denying the allegations for years, Flying Food Group has admitted that it took part in an illegal effort to oust the workers’ union.  Among other conduct, the company admits that multiple members of management interrogated workers about their union sympathies and activities and assisted in an effort to remove the union through a decertification campaign.  This conduct occurred during or in the aftermath of a worker strike for better wages and conditions.

The Company also agreed to pay $50,000 to a worker whom the NLRB complaint accused Flying Food Group of firing because he participated in union activities and in order to discourage employees from engaging in those activities.

Finally, the settlement also requires that Flying Food Group refrain from engaging in a long list of violations of workers’ rights going forward – and, importantly, provides that if the Flying Food Group fails to comply with the settlement’s terms, the NLRB can reissue the complaint, deem all allegations admitted, and obtain a federal court judgment enforcing a full remedy — all without a trial.

The settlement also requires the Company to formally pledge to its employees that it fully respect workers’ rights under federal labor law going forward and will not do any of the following acts, among others:

  • Obstruct doors to discourage workers from participating in protected activities
  • Watch workers, or make it appear that workers are being watched, to find out about their union activities
  • Promise workers benefits to discourage them from supporting a union
  • Threaten workers with discipline because they engage in union or other protected activity
  • Solicit workers to sign petitions to decertify UNITE HERE Local 11
  • Ask workers if they have signed or wish to sign a petition to remove the Union
  • Actively solicit, encourage, promote, or provide more than ministerial aid in the initiation, signing, or filing of a worker petition to decertify the Union
  • Suspend or fire workers because of their Union membership or support
  • The first item relates to the Company’s locking of an exit door from the outside on a day that workers’ planned a peaceful protest, conduct which also resulted in a citation by Cal/OSHA.

The settlement is the latest of a long series of legal citations.  Altogether, over the last several years, five different government agencies have issued citations or complaints against Flying Food Group for labor or safety violations.  These include six citations by the City of Los Angeles for violations of the airport minimum wage by it or its staffing agencies six citations by Cal/OSHA for violations of workplace safety rules, 10 citation by California Highway Patrol for operating heavy trucks without proper licenses and other issues, and a citation by the California Labor Commissioner for violating the state’s post-Covid right-to-return-to–work law.

This is the second settlement the company has entered into since LAWA informed the company it was looking into allegations that “raised questions related to FFG’s trustworthiness, quality, fitness and capacity.” Last month, Flying Food Group also reached a settlement nearly three years after OSHA cited the company for illegally locking a door; as noted above, this issue was also included in the NLRB charges.

“I am so thankful that we are finally seeing some recourse for the violations this company has committed to our basic rights.  It has been over three years since me and my coworkers have been fighting for respect, and there is still so much to go.  But it is at least good to see the company has admitted to violating our rights,” said Monica Lira workers at Flying Food Group.

“The bravery and commitment workers showed despite working for a company like Flying Food Group is true inspiration. This company deserves to be held accountable for all of the wrongdoing and damage they have caused, and we are glad this settlement starts to do that, though there is still much to be done,” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11.

As a next step, workers are planning to hold a Truth Commission on April 13th to talk about their experiences and the need to hold Flying Food Group accountable so that workers are safe and treated with dignity and respect.