BREAKING: Outraged Without A Deal To Protect Union Jobs, Original Pantry Cafe Workers Vow to Keep Fighting Ahead of Sunday Closure Threat by Riordan Trust

February 27, 2025

Trust’s Decision to Close Undermines Democratic Process to Negotiate a Fair Deal, say Workers

Los Angeles: Last night, the Original Pantry workers and union representing them, UNITE HERE Local 11, met with The Richard J. Riordan Trust, who since Mr. Riordan’s passing in 2023, has assumed control of the historic restaurant.

The Richard J. Riordan Trust remains set on its intention that the restaurant be closed on Sunday March 2nd at 5pm. The Pantry is demanding that, in order to avoid the closure and loss of workers’ jobs, workers must give up their demand for job security and continued union representation if the restaurant changes hands.

It is a shame not only to Los Angeles and the millions of customers and families this restaurant has served that the Trust refuses to save this place and protect the jobs of the workers who have given their lives.

Before negotiations hundreds of community members, neighbors and organizations like UTLA, ACCE, CLUE, California Poor Peoples Campaign, Catholic Worker Center, DSA Los Angeles, LAANE, SEIU, and Councilmember Curren Price showed up to show support for the workers and let the Trust know they back the workers and their calls for justice. Over a hundred letters of support by customers were delivered to the representatives of the Trust during negotiations. Workers are committed to saving their jobs, keeping their union and the 100-year old institution open. Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice and the community plans to have an Ash Wednesday action on March 5th between 7am-8am to gather and pray outside the Pantry, workers encourage the community to attend.

Community Rallies Around The Original Pantry Cafe, Host Dine-In to Save Worker Jobs!

February 26, 2025

Beloved institution formerly owned by Richard Riordan under closure threat by trust that controls the late mayor’s estate

Los Angeles: Dozens of community leaders and neighbors plan to hold a Dine-In at the Original Pantry Cafe. The upsurge in community support to save the Pantry and good union jobs comes after last week dozens of workers of the historic landmark picketed the iconic institution formerly owned by Mayor Richard Riordan. Since his passing in 2023, The Richard J. Riordan Trust has exercised control over the restaurant, which has been designated an LA Historic-Cultural Monument. The Trust has announced its intention that the restaurant be closed. The Pantry is demanding that, in order to avoid the closure and loss of workers’ jobs, workers must give up their demand for job security and continued union representation if the restaurant changes hands.

Community leaders plan to come together on the same day the Trust is set to resume negotiations with the union and workers. Their hope is to send a strong message to the owners in hope that they will agree to a fair contract and job protections.

The union representing the workers, UNITE HERE Local 11, has filed a pending unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the threatened closure violates federal labor law. Workers at this historic restaurant are fighting for a fair and dignified contract and to guarantee they are able to keep their jobs and the rights that come with union representation.

BOYCOTT: Workers at Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center Call for Boycott Amid Growing Labor Issues with ASM and Joint Employer, City of Long Beach

January 30, 2025

Long Beach: UNITE HERE Local 11 members plan to launch a boycott of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, owned by the City of Long Beach, until its operator ASM Global and the city agrees to sign a fair contract that ensures that all workers including subcontracted workers earn a living wage and are treated fairly. The boycott calls for tourists and visitors to choose alternatives for events.

The call for a boycott comes after the union filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board last week alleging that ASM Global, the primary company that manages and operates the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, unlawfully called the police on picketing workers in retaliation for their protected activity and surveilled workers who were peacefully exercising their legal rights. The complaint names city manager Tom Modica as a representative of the City of Long Beach, which the complaint alleges is a joint employer of the striking Convention Center employees. ASM was recently purchased by Legends which also manages food and beverage operations at Sofi Stadium and the Los Angeles Coliseum.

For months, workers have been seeking to bargain a successor union contract with fair working conditions, voted to authorize a strike and then picketed the Convention Center during Mayor Rex Richardson’s State of the City & the Long Beach State of the Port last week.

The union also filed a public records request requesting all communications between ASM and City departments, including the Office of City Manager Tom Modica, and documents associated with the Request for Proposals for operation of a temporary amphitheater located adjacent to the Queen Mary. Mayor Rex Richardson announced at the State of the City that Legends & ASM had been “identified as the official operator” for that venue. Long Beach city leaders voted in early January to draft an ordinance to revise the minimum wage in a manner that would strip away the rights of subcontracted workers to be covered by the city’s wage law. Workers and community members are calling on the city to reverse this decision.

PRESS RELEASE: Third Woman Alleges Sexual Harassment Against Flying Food Group at LAX, File Complaints Againts Airline Catering Giant

January 17, 2025

These Complaints are latest in litany of legal complaints against FFG; labor dispute drags on

Inglewood, CA: A third woman has filed a complaint against Flying Food Group, an airline catering giant LAX following two other women who did the same last month. All three are alleging that Flying Food Group failed to protect them from sexual harassment and gender discrimination on the job

In November of last year, two women employees of Flying Food Group, Nelly Hernandez and Sandra Ruiz, filed charges with the California Civil Rights Department alleging that they were subject to repeated sexual advances by their supervisor, including in the form of sexual comments, inappropriate staring, and multiple instances of unwanted physical touching at work.

Earlier this week, Patricia Hernandez Marquez, a former employee of Flying Food Group, joined Miss. Hernandez and Ruiz by filing her own charges, which allege that the same supervisor harassed her while she worked for Flying Food and drove her to quit.

The women are asking the Civil Rights Department to investigate Flying Foods Group’s practices, including whether the conduct they have alleged constitutes illegal discrimination under California law.

Nelly Hernandez stated, “My supervisor has caused me to feel unsafe at work. I’m afraid to clean the upstairs areas by myself in case he’ll find me there. I stopped wearing perfume to work after all his comments. I decided that I needed to do something. Others need to know what is happening and that they, too, can combat this kind of injustice in their workplaces.”

Sandra Ruiz said, “After all that my supervisor has done, I feel anxious just to see him at work. I get headaches and stomach aches and have lost weight in recent months. The stress I feel having to come into work every day is too much for me to handle some days. After I learned about my co-workers speaking out, I knew I wasn’t alone. I decided I had to come forward and demand respect, too, so that this stops happening.”

“This is not the first time Flying Food has been accused of failing to protect its employees,” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, the union that represents all complainants. “Time and again, workers have raised complaints about sex discrimination and other issues to the company. It’s time for Flying Food to own up to its responsibility to the workers and hold management accountable for this kind of behavior. No woman should have to work under the kind of harassment Nelly, Sandra, and Patricia have described.”

“Sexual harassment and discrimination isn’t just humiliating to workers,” said Jennifer Reisch, supervising attorney for the University of California at Irvine’s Workers Law and Organizing Clinic, which filed the charges on behalf of Flying Food employees. “It also can be a tool for employers to divide workers and undermine their efforts at organizing and building solidarity in the workplace.”

Workers at Flying Food Group have been embroiled in a labor dispute since April 2023, when they went on strike for 28 days. Since that time, labor negotiations have continued to drag on without an agreement. The company has also been at the center of numerous legal battles; last month, the General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board announced that it would be moving to trial on seven unfair labor practices charges filed against the company, while a dozen more unfair labor practice charges remain under investigation. Flying Food Group also paid out $1.2 million in damages earlier this year to employees for failing to recall them in a timely manner after the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with the states’ Right to Recall law.

BREAKING NEWS: Long Beach Convention Center Workers Vote 85% To Strike Ahead of Long Beach State of the City, Call on City to Not Roll Back Living Wage Law

January 13, 2025

Long Beach: Last night workers for ASM Global at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center voted 85% to authorize a strike to protest the issue of subcontracting at their workplaces.

“My coworkers and I work hard to welcome all into our city. It is a shame that ASM Global has not ensured its workers earn livable wages whether we work directly for ASM or we are subcontracted.We all need wages to help us provide for our families. ” said Jesus Jr Morales a Banquet Captain at the Long Beach Convention Center.

Workers at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center could engage in picketing, boycotting, or striking at any moment. These workers are the cooks, bartenders, and servers serving the Long Beach Convention Center, the Long Beach Arena, and Terrace Theatre. The workers and ASM have been in bargaining for months but have not reached an agreement on a new union contract, with the issue of subcontracted work being a sticking point. Pickets and protests could occur as early as next week.

Long Beach Convention and Long Beach Airport workers have also been advocating for the City to adopt an “Olympic Wage” ordinance to match the wages Long Beach hotel workers won in 2024. With hospitality business owners set to reap enormous benefits from the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, an increased minimum wage would ensure all workers who will welcome the millions of guests coming into the region can live in the communities near where they work.

However, Long Beach City leaders voted this past Tuesday to draft an ordinance that would strip away the rights of subcontracted workers to be covered by the city’s wage law. Workers and community members are calling on the city to reverse this decision.

Ada Briceño, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 said, “As the city and our region are gearing up for the Olympics and Paralympics of 2028, it is disappointing that leaders are taking steps that would strip workers to a living wage. The city and its leadership have an opportunity to right this wrong.”

UNITE HERE Local 11 Members Care for Fire Evacuees in Southern California

January 8, 2025

PRESS RELEASE: Los Angeles City Council Votes for Historic Olympic Wage

December 11, 2024

Ordinance will increase wage for LAX & hotel workers to $30/hour by 2028, increase access to quality healthcare

Los Angeles: After dozens of tourism workers fasted for three days outside City Hall, the Los Angeles City council voted to move forward the Olympic Wage for tourism workers that would bring the wage to $30 an hour by the time the Olympics come to Los Angeles in 2028 and ensure workers have access to quality health coverage. The fasting workers are members of SEIU-United Service Workers West and Unite HERE Local 11 who work at LAX and some of LA’s major hotels.

“As a single mother of three who commutes over two hours from Bakersfield to work at LAX’s airline catering company LSG Sky Chef’s, it makes me happy to see this finally move forward . With the $20 I make it’s not nearly enough to help me live in Los Angeles. I am proud that city leaders are taking concrete steps to help better the lives of thousands of working families like mine ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics.”said Lorena Mendez, member of UNITE HERE Local 11 and faster.

“I have been fighting for this update to the Living Wage Ordinance for over 600 days because workers like me who are predominantly Black, brown, and immigrants and make LAX run deserve better. We deserve to be paid a wage we can live on. We deserve access to quality healthcare, so I can treat the COPD I developed from working at and living near LAX. I deserve access to the care my son needs to treat his asthma. Today’s City Council vote is a step in the right direction, demonstrating that when workers fight, workers win,” said Jovan Houston, LAX customer service agent, SEIU-USWW executive board member, and faster.

Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, said “Hotel and airport workers, the backbone of our thriving tourism industry, have made history. Through their strikes, marches, and even fasting, they won the nation’s highest minimum wage and the first-ever Olympic and Paralympic Wage. This is a critical first step to ensure that mega-events like the Olympics improve the lives of working Angelenos by providing affordable housing and good jobs, rather than simply enriching tourism CEO’s.”

“LAX workers have been fighting for the dignified wages and healthcare benefits that reflect the value of the essential work they do daily to anchor the transportation and tourism industries and will provide as our city prepares to host mega events like the World Cup and Olympics,” said David Huerta, President of SEIU-USWW. “LAX workers — predominantly Black, brown, and immigrant — took on the airlines and corporate special interests and even when faced with years of setbacks, they never gave up. Now, the LA City Council, thanks largely to the leadership of Councilmembers Soto-Martinez and Price and Council President Dawson has taken the righteous step to move the modernization of the Living Wage Ordinance forward, demonstrating that when LA responds to the needs of its workers, it can be a beacon of hope and live up to its name as the City of Angels.”

“Today’s vote is continuing the noble legacy of uplifting working families as the city gets ready to host the World Cup and the Olympics,” said Jessica Durrim Director at LAANE.

The vote marks a significant move forward after tourism workers first presented this ordinance in April 2023. The policy now goes to the City Attorney to draft and come back to the full council for a final vote. Tourism workers in Long Beach, another Olympics and Paralympics host city, are similarly advocating for an Olympic wage.

UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power Lead Arizona’s Largest Voter Canvass for Harris

November 5, 2024

Knock on over 1.3 million doors, have over 250,000 conversations with voters

Phoenix, Ariz.–Building on their track record of winning elections cycle after cycle, UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power knew that knocking on doors and having conversations with voters to get out the vote was essential. UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power grew to over 500 canvassers after launching their field operation in August.

“Worker Power and UNITE HERE Local 11 focused on doing what we do best, connecting face-to-face with voters on top issues that matter to them like the economy, reproductive rights and democracy. I am particularly proud that we talked to over 32,000 voters who did not vote in Arizona in 2020,” said Brendan Walsh, Executive Director of Worker Power. “In our experience, having won Arizona for Biden in 2020, we found that oftentimes these heavily contested races come down to a handful of votes, and we are optimistic that our field program will deliver that key difference again this year.”

Worker Power’s universe of voters consisted of low propensity voters, voters of color, women, young people, and unaffiliated or independent voters, from Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. Canvassers talked with 54.2% women and 51.6% voters of color to motivate them to vote for Harris, U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego, and Prop 139. By election night we knocked on over 1.3 million doors and had 250,000 conversations with voters.

“As we wait for every vote to be counted, we know that hundreds of cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers, airport and food service workers, once again, left it all out in the field in Arizona to elect a President who will fight for working people. Our members just came off of a year-long contract fight at over 70 hotels and event centers, and won. They brought that same energy and drive to this election. That’s where the difference is made—not on television screens or billboards, but looking people in the eye and asking them what kind of world they want to live in.” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 and Board Chair of Worker Power.

In addition to working on the Presidential and U.S. Senate elections, Worker Power and UNITE HERE Local 11 also activated voters to vote down ballot for key swing legislative races, Phoenix city council races, statewide propositions like Prop 139, and Prop 499 in Glendale.

“I had never been involved politically until this year. It was important for me to get out the vote for Harris because as a woman this election is a matter of life or death. I also have a sister and nieces in Texas where, like in Arizona, the rights of women and young girls are on the line. Decades ago women could not vote or own property, and we are not going back,” said Cynthia Jimenez, cook at Sky Harbor International Airport for 12 years and member of UNITE HERE Local 11, originally from Chiapas, Mexico.

UNITE HERE Local 11 and Worker Power were affiliated with UNITE HERE International Union’s national program, which led field programs in seven key battleground states, including Nevada and Pennsylvania. Collectively, UNITE HERE knocked on 4 million doors to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.