Activists claim HMS Host is Ineligible for Rent Relief
Los Angeles, CA: Laid-off concessions workers spoke outside Terminal 4 on Thursday claiming that multibillion-dollar concessionaire HMS Host is ineligible for rent relief due to an outstanding violation of the LAX living wage law. Workers filed complaints with the City in 2019, alleging a failure to pay the minimum wage to HMS Host workers. Workers have not received any payments to compensate them for the alleged minimum wage violation.
This comes on a day when LAWA is considering an extensive second relief package for concessions companies. To be eligible for relief, concessionaires must be in compliance with all City ordinances.
“No company can get away with paying below the minimum wage here at the airport, especially not the big rich ones like HMS Host,” said Marlene Mendoza who was worked at HMS Host at LAX for 32 years. “If the airport keeps giving them money even if they don’t follow the rules, why would they ever follow the rules? No more relief for HMS Host!”
HMS Host is the largest operator of airport concessions in the United States. It is owned by Italian giant Autogrill, which is controlled by the billionaire Benetton family and their global holding firm Edizione. Edizione assets were valued at $13.8 billion at the end of 2019. Autogrill is reportedly negotiating an aid package with the Italian government worth over $350 million dollars.
“For many workers, this back pay is worth hundreds of dollars. Right now, when we are laid-off indefinitely, this money is more important than ever. It means food, it means gas, it means shelter. I can’t believe Host still hasn’t paid us” said Debra Lewis who has worked at HMS Host at LAX for 34 years.
Hundreds of laid-off HMS Host are struggling to stay fed, pay rent, and keep their families safe and healthy during the pandemic. Over 90% of LAX concessions workers are people of color and over 20% are Black.
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UNITE HERE Local 11 is the union of more than 32,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, sports arenas & convention centers in So. California & Arizona.
/wp-content/uploads/newlogo_512.jpg00Daria Ovide/wp-content/uploads/newlogo_512.jpgDaria Ovide2020-10-01 15:26:352021-09-11 15:30:40LAX Workers Protest Alleged Violation of LAX Minimum Wage Law
On September 3, 2020, dozens of predominantly black and brown front-line airport workers staged a “die-in” inside the Tom Bradley Terminal in LAX calling for the need to extend healthcare for laid-off airport workers during the pandemic. The theatrical action coincided with a meeting of LAWA, the airport’s governing body. Workers are calling upon LAWA to ensure that part of any rent relief for concessionaires is passed on to workers through extended healthcare coverage.
/wp-content/uploads/newlogo_512.jpg00UNITE HERE Local 11/wp-content/uploads/newlogo_512.jpgUNITE HERE Local 112020-09-04 20:35:552021-03-03 15:57:46HMS Host “Die-In” at LAX
Frontline LAX Workers Stage “Die-In” for Extended Healthcare Amid COVID-19 Health Crisis
“Hundreds of laid-off workers have spoken at LAWA since the pandemic began. We have told the board about our families need for extended health insurance. But it has not been enough. LAWA is considering millions of dollars more in relief for companies. Thousands of LAX workers facing the loss of healthcare for themselves and their families in a pandemic. Their lives are at stake,” Robin Rodriguez, Organizing Director UNITE HERE Local 11.
Workers of color at LAX have been some of the hardest hit during this pandemic. At LAX, upwards of 90% of the concession’s workforce are people of color and over 20% of this workforce is Black. Thousands have been laid off due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make rent, with no secure date of return nor a promise of continued healthcare coverage throughout the pandemic.
HMS Host and Areas USA, the two largest concessionaires at LAX who employ a total of about 1700 workers, have refused to make any additional health care payments for their laid-off employees. Other companies at LAX, like Duty Free Shops, Hudson News and Delaware North Companies, have paid additional months of healthcare for their laid-off workers.
“I have given my life to this airport. My co-workers have given their lives to this airport. My company has access to millions and millions of dollars. I do not. They can afford to extend our healthcare. Without healthcare we are at higher risk of losing our lives to COVID. LAWA should not give relief to them unless they do,” Marlene Mendoza, a server of 32 years at LAX for HMS Host.
Since the pandemic began, HMS Host has received relief worth millions of dollars from state and local governments, and its parent company, Italian giant Autogrill, is negotiating an aid package with the Italian government reportedly worth over $350 million dollars. Areas USA is owned by Paris-based private equity firm PAI Partners, which has $16 billion under management, including $177 million from the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA).
“We want LAX and LAWA to do the right thing and extend our healthcare. My entire family depends on me for it. I have two young daughters and don’t know what I would do if they got sick,” Elizabeth Mejia, server for AREAS USA at LAX Airport for 8 years.
The City of Los Angeles approved a temporary rent relief package in April for LAX concessionaires requiring recipients of relief to pay for additional healthcare for laid-off workers. With the pandemic continuing, workers are now seeking to ensure that any new relief for companies include further extended healthcare for laid-off workers and are calling upon companies to participate and extend workers’ healthcare.
/wp-content/uploads/newlogo_512.jpg00UNITE HERE Local 11/wp-content/uploads/newlogo_512.jpgUNITE HERE Local 112020-09-03 13:32:152021-03-18 17:51:52Frontline LAX Workers Stage “Die-In” for Extended Healthcare
LAX Workers Protest Alleged Violation of LAX Minimum Wage Law
Activists claim HMS Host is Ineligible for Rent Relief
Los Angeles, CA: Laid-off concessions workers spoke outside Terminal 4 on Thursday claiming that multibillion-dollar concessionaire HMS Host is ineligible for rent relief due to an outstanding violation of the LAX living wage law. Workers filed complaints with the City in 2019, alleging a failure to pay the minimum wage to HMS Host workers. Workers have not received any payments to compensate them for the alleged minimum wage violation.
This comes on a day when LAWA is considering an extensive second relief package for concessions companies. To be eligible for relief, concessionaires must be in compliance with all City ordinances.
“No company can get away with paying below the minimum wage here at the airport, especially not the big rich ones like HMS Host,” said Marlene Mendoza who was worked at HMS Host at LAX for 32 years. “If the airport keeps giving them money even if they don’t follow the rules, why would they ever follow the rules? No more relief for HMS Host!”
HMS Host is the largest operator of airport concessions in the United States. It is owned by Italian giant Autogrill, which is controlled by the billionaire Benetton family and their global holding firm Edizione. Edizione assets were valued at $13.8 billion at the end of 2019. Autogrill is reportedly negotiating an aid package with the Italian government worth over $350 million dollars.
“For many workers, this back pay is worth hundreds of dollars. Right now, when we are laid-off indefinitely, this money is more important than ever. It means food, it means gas, it means shelter. I can’t believe Host still hasn’t paid us” said Debra Lewis who has worked at HMS Host at LAX for 34 years.
Hundreds of laid-off HMS Host are struggling to stay fed, pay rent, and keep their families safe and healthy during the pandemic. Over 90% of LAX concessions workers are people of color and over 20% are Black.
###
UNITE HERE Local 11 is the union of more than 32,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, sports arenas & convention centers in So. California & Arizona.
HMS Host “Die-In” at LAX
On September 3, 2020, dozens of predominantly black and brown front-line airport workers staged a “die-in” inside the Tom Bradley Terminal in LAX calling for the need to extend healthcare for laid-off airport workers during the pandemic. The theatrical action coincided with a meeting of LAWA, the airport’s governing body. Workers are calling upon LAWA to ensure that part of any rent relief for concessionaires is passed on to workers through extended healthcare coverage.
Frontline LAX Workers Stage “Die-In” for Extended Healthcare
Frontline LAX Workers Stage “Die-In” for Extended Healthcare Amid COVID-19 Health Crisis
“Hundreds of laid-off workers have spoken at LAWA since the pandemic began. We have told the board about our families need for extended health insurance. But it has not been enough. LAWA is considering millions of dollars more in relief for companies. Thousands of LAX workers facing the loss of healthcare for themselves and their families in a pandemic. Their lives are at stake,” Robin Rodriguez, Organizing Director UNITE HERE Local 11.
Workers of color at LAX have been some of the hardest hit during this pandemic. At LAX, upwards of 90% of the concession’s workforce are people of color and over 20% of this workforce is Black. Thousands have been laid off due to COVID-19 and are struggling to make rent, with no secure date of return nor a promise of continued healthcare coverage throughout the pandemic.
HMS Host and Areas USA, the two largest concessionaires at LAX who employ a total of about 1700 workers, have refused to make any additional health care payments for their laid-off employees. Other companies at LAX, like Duty Free Shops, Hudson News and Delaware North Companies, have paid additional months of healthcare for their laid-off workers.
“I have given my life to this airport. My co-workers have given their lives to this airport. My company has access to millions and millions of dollars. I do not. They can afford to extend our healthcare. Without healthcare we are at higher risk of losing our lives to COVID. LAWA should not give relief to them unless they do,” Marlene Mendoza, a server of 32 years at LAX for HMS Host.
Since the pandemic began, HMS Host has received relief worth millions of dollars from state and local governments, and its parent company, Italian giant Autogrill, is negotiating an aid package with the Italian government reportedly worth over $350 million dollars. Areas USA is owned by Paris-based private equity firm PAI Partners, which has $16 billion under management, including $177 million from the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA).
“We want LAX and LAWA to do the right thing and extend our healthcare. My entire family depends on me for it. I have two young daughters and don’t know what I would do if they got sick,” Elizabeth Mejia, server for AREAS USA at LAX Airport for 8 years.
The City of Los Angeles approved a temporary rent relief package in April for LAX concessionaires requiring recipients of relief to pay for additional healthcare for laid-off workers. With the pandemic continuing, workers are now seeking to ensure that any new relief for companies include further extended healthcare for laid-off workers and are calling upon companies to participate and extend workers’ healthcare.