Learn about the ongoing struggle of airline catering workers employed by Flying Food Group (FFG) at LAX for dignity and justice. This page details workers’ efforts to hold the company accountable through strikes, public testimony, legal complaints, protests, and community action while raising concerns about workplace safety, labor rights, wage violations, retaliation, and sexual harassment. The page includes news articles, as well as information on actions by government agencies, reports by experts, and news on growing international solidarity from labor organizations representing airline workers around the world. Together, these stories provide a detailed record of workers’ demands for dignity, respect, safe working conditions, and accountability from one of the nation’s largest airline catering companies.
BREAKING NEWS: Airline Caterer Flying Food Group with Record of Worker Abuse Receives “Yellow Card,” Placed on 6-Month Probation by City of LA
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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New Serious Safety Violations at Flying Food Group (LAX)
On May 20, 2026, Cal/OSHA issued new Citations and Notifications of Penalty to Flying Food Group (“Company”) for workplace safety violations discovered during inspections of two facilities serving LAX. As set out below, these include four “serious” citations, two of which arise from the Company’s failure to ensure that cold storage rooms can be utilized safely and opened from the inside, an issue which led to a near tragedy during a fire on January 22, 2026 in which two workers were found inside a cooler room whose entrance door had been chained shut. Click here to read the full report.
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.
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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
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.
REPORT OF LOS ANGELES TRUTH COMMISSION ON LABOR ABUSES AT FLYING FOOD GROUP (LAX)
“What is happening at Flying Food Group is not a series of isolated incidents. It is a deeply rooted pattern of worker mistreatment and neglect. After hearing directly from employees, I am appalled by reports of unsafe and unhealthy working conditions that put workers’ lives at risk every single day. From serious fire safety violations to ongoing physical hazards across kitchen, transportation, and warehouse operations, workers are being forced to choose between earning a paycheck and protecting their own safety. No worker should ever have to report to a job where they fear being trapped in a cooler during a fire or losing access to basic healthcare without warning.” Click here for the full report.
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.
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LAX STANDARDS: Assessing Flying Food Group LLC’s Labor Practices Under Intyernational Labor Standards
“International labor standards also apply to safety and health, non-discrimination, and living wage requirements. They require policies to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses “by minimizing…the causes of hazards inherent in the working environment.” They proscribe discrimination in employment “on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin” as well as sexual harassment in the workplace. They define a living wage as “the wage level that is necessary to afford a decent standard of living for workers and their families.” The report details complaints and cases related to these international labor standards. State authorities have cited FFG for multiple violations of safety and health regulations, and instances of two recent workplace fires within a four- month period are currently under investigation. FFG has also had to pay more than $1 million in back pay to workers for violation of the Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance and laws on job and wage protection for Covid-displaced workers.” Click here to read the full report.
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
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.
“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.”
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 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.”
BREAKING NEWS: On Eve of Trial, Flying Food Group Admits to Violating Worker Rights, in Settlement of Major Labor Case
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:
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.
MAYOR BASS ADDRESSES THE FIRE AT FLYING FOOD GROUP