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Archive for category: IN THE NEWS

Signal Tribune: Two women file harassment claims against Long Beach Yacht Club

“The two women, Julianne Perez and Vanessa Wainer, allege they experienced verbal abuse, intimidation and harassment from the club’s executive chef, Ken Haselwood, whom they say specifically targeted pregnant women. In their complaints, they say they raised their concerns with the club’s human resources department and the Long Beach Yacht Club General Manager Norm Rich multiple times over the last three years and their concerns were never addressed.”

NEWS NATION: SoFi Stadium workers vote on strike authorization before FIFA World Cup

Union leaders say the company’s latest proposal includes wage freezes for some workers and annual raises of 25 cents per hour for others. They argue workers deserve a larger share of the revenue expected during the FIFA World Cup, noting that some hospitality suite packages are selling for more than $100,000.

LA Times: SoFi Stadium workers to vote on whether to authorize a strike with World Cup looming

“The cooks, dishwashers, concession workers, bartenders and servers represented by Unite Here Local 11 have been working without a contract for a year and the union says negotiations with Legends Global, the stadium’s food-service operator, have stalled. Workers are demanding salary increases, protection against subcontracting and job loss through automation, and are protesting FIFA’s collection of sensitive private information such as nationality and home addresses.”

“If a strike is approved during the two-day vote, Kurt Petersen, co-president of the union, said the 70,000 fans arriving for the June 12 World Cup opener between the U.S. and Paraguay will be greeted by hundreds of picketing workers.”

New York Times: FIFA facing ‘significant’ World Cup problem as SoFi Stadium workers set for strike vote

“We felt the company (Legends) were not taking the concerns and demands seriously enough,” Petersen said. “At midday (Tuesday), the workers told the company that we intend to proceed with a strike vote. The vote is scheduled for next week over two days on Thursday and Friday.”

Travel Daily News: European aviation unions raise concerns over Flying Food Group labour practices

European aviation trade unions have committed to mobilising support for more than 1,000 workers employed by Flying Food Group (FFG) at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), following allegations concerning labour rights and workplace conditions.

 

EUROPEAN TRANSPORT WORKERS FEDERATION: European airlines on notice: unions to demand action over reports of labour abuses in Flying Food Group supply chain

Aviation trade unions in Europe have committed to mobilising in support of over 1,000 Flying Food Group workers at SFO and LAX airports. At this week’s Section meeting, the ETF’s Civil Aviation Section passed a resolution after hearing from FFG workers and their union, UNITE HERE, to support their five-year struggle for a collective bargaining agreement. FFG workers provide catering services to numerous European carriers at LAX and SFO airports and are a critical part of their supply chains.

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.

LA TIMES: In deal with business leaders, $30 minimum wage for L.A. hotel and airport workers will be delayed

In May 2025, the council approved a proposal that would have increased the minimum wage to $30 in July 2028 and also raised an hourly payment for healthcare coverage.

In response, a coalition of airline and hotel businesses gathered enough signatures to place a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot that took aim at the city’s gross receipts tax, which is imposed on a vast array of businesses, including entertainment companies, child-care providers, law firms, accountants, healthcare businesses, nightclubs and many others.

LAIST: Santa Monica will soon transform a huge plot of land. Should it include housing?

TheSanta Monica Airport is set to close at the end of 2028. Residents have supported turning it into a park. Proponents of that approach say all 227 acres should be reserved for green space.

But with rents out of reach for many Westside workers, others are fighting to set aside some land for affordable housing.

“If we don’t do it here, I don’t know where we’ll get it done in such big numbers,” said Ralph Mechur, a member of the pro-housing group Cloverfield Commons and a proponent of a measure now aiming to qualify for the November ballot.