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Welcome to UNITE HERE Local 11

Organized workers earn more. Union members can enjoy health and pension benefits funded through employers’ contributions.  Workers and their dependents can also negotiate to win free legal assistance with immigration services, housing issues, divorce, adoption and other services. Our families deserve more. Organize and Win!

UNION VICTORIES

BREAKING NEWS: DAYS BEFORE WORLD CUP, SOFI STADIUM WORKERS WIN HISTORIC CONTRACT — AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE IF ICE THREATENS SAFETY

UNITE HERE Local 11 reaches tentative agreement with Legends Hospitality covering 2,000 food and beverage workers at SoFi Stadium. Workers retain the unprecedented right to strike if ICE or other federal immigration agencies threaten their safety during the World Cup. Workers will vote to ratify on Wednesday. Full details to be released following ratification.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just days away, UNITE HERE Local 11 announced tonight a tentative agreement with Legends Hospitality covering approximately 2,000 food and beverage workers at SoFi Stadium. The tentative agreement secures massive wage increases, landmark job protections, and groundbreaking privacy rights. Notably, it includes an explicit right to strike if ICE or Border Patrol activity at the worksite threatens worker safety—a provision legal experts say is unprecedented in modern American labor history.

The contract will expire on April 30, 2028, aligning with over 100 other stadium, hotel, and airport concessions contracts that expire before the Olympics.

Key Improvements:

  • Historic wage increases: The largest increases for stadium workers in history, with significant premiums for World Cup and Super Bowl events.
  • Workforce Housing Fund: Legends will make a multimillion dollar contribution to fund to develop housing for hospitality workers.
  • Landmark Job Protections: A 75% reduction in subcontracting over the life of the agreement, enforced by an industry-first penalty mechanism.
  • Restrictions on AI and Automation: No new self-checkout, kiosks, or cashier-less technology can be deployed, safeguarding jobs.
  • Groundbreaking Privacy Rights: Workers cannot be forced to surrender Social Security numbers, immigration status, or country of origin for accreditation of mega events like the World Cup. FIFA’s accreditation demands are prohibited by the contract.
  • Unprecedented Right to Strike: Workers have the contractual right to walk off the job if the Union determines in good faith that federal immigration agency actions threaten worker safety during a World Cup match.

“These workers are heroes. They stood up to FIFA. They stood up to ICE. They won a historic contract, and they are ready for whatever comes during the World Cup. If federal immigration agencies threaten workers’ safety, our members have the right to walk off the job. That is now in their contract,” said Kurt Petersen, Co-President, UNITE HERE Local 11.

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.

Grievance Victory at the Anaheim Convention Center

Maria Sanchez, a long time shop steward at the Anaheim Convention Center, was unjustly terminated last year but through mediation she got her job back with no loss of seniority and a full year’s back pay and benefits. Way to go Maria!

WORKERS AT THE AC HOTEL IN PASADENA: WELCOME TO THE UNION!

The Housekeeping Department at the AC Hotel in Pasadena voted to join the union. After a four-month campaign, the 23 members of the housekeeping department voted 90% for the union Negotiations for their first union contract will begin in the next couple weeks. Congratulations! And… sí se puede, compañeros!

98% of Private Suite workers voted YES to ratify their first union contract

Private Suite workers at LAX ratified a historic new contract that will give them $15 i raises over three years. By the end of the contract salaries for all 150 workers will be around $40-$50 an hour. Workers also won health care, pension, and tipped workers will be able to keep their tips that sometimes can be up to $1,500 in one day! Wow!

Grievance Victories

The Ambassadors (Bellmen) of the W Westwood Los Angeles won a grievance settlement of $859.99. The employer failed to comply with the Settlement from year 2020.

The restaurant servers of Sofitel won a grievance settlement of $29,171.39 of back pay from 2023 to now. The employer failed to apply the appropriate wages increase over the years of our contract 2023 to 2026.

 

ONTARIO WORKERS AT THE CONVENTION CENTER, ONTARIO FIELD AND TOYOTA ARENA RATIFY A HISTORIC NEW CONTRACT

Congratulations to the Legends workers at the Ontario Convention Center, the Ontario Field (home of the minor league Dodger team), and the Toyota Arena departments of Housekeeping, Maintenance, Parking, and Ice Techs who ratified a historic contract on May 9.

 

This new contract will bring a $12 raise in year one, the inclusion into to the Santa Monica Health Fund, and accretion for workers who will be able to pick up work hours at all three venues. This new contract covers 193 workers and will expire March 31, 2028.

Victory at the Chateau Marmont

Bell and Valet workers at the Chateau Marmont will be compensated a porterage fee of $125.00 per any contracted event at the hotel and/or restaurant.

Also, when there’s a full restaurant buy-out, Valet/Bell workers will receive the applicable tipped employee premium pay all hours from set up throughout the buy-out event.

Universal Hilton Workers Ratify their First Union Contract

Congratulations to the workers of the Universal Hilton, who ratified their first union contract at 100%! With this incredible new contract, workers go from paying 100% for their health insurance to only paying 20% and the company pays the rest. Workers also won a pension and access to the legal fund. And housekeepers will continue to benefit from the Hotel Worker Protection and the Worker Retention ordinances Local 11 helped pass, capping workloads to 8 rooms per shift and protecting them from losing their jobs.

BMO Stadium Workers Ratify Their Second Union Contract

Workers at BMO Stadium ratified a great new contract that will expire April 30, 2028. The contract covers over 350 workers and includes $12.00-$15.00 increases for non-tipped workers, resulting in final rates of $30.00–$35.00. It also includes retroactive pay and bonuses from 2025 to the present.
A new catering event service charge will be paid directly to catering staff, and there is a 1% service charge increase for suite runners. Concession stands will now feature tip screens with a highlighted 20% suggestion. The contract also improves on health care and pension benefits, and includes a housing fund and participation in the union’s legal fund.

Victory at the Anaheim Hilton

Over at the Anaheim Hilton the company was holding on to the server’s and bartender’s cash tips and adding them to their paychecks every two weeks. But those tips belonged to the workers who should have access to the money the moment they are tipped. The workers took it to arbitration and won the right to keep their tips and not have to wait two weeks before receiving the money. Sí se pudo!

Congratulations Spa Workers of the Fairmont Century Plaza!

Congratulations to the 32 Fairmont Century Spa workers—Holistic practitioners, healers, and massage therapist—who have joined our union! Welcome home! ¡And check out this great logo they designed!

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

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.

To read more, click here.

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.

 

CONTRACT RATIFICATIONS FOR 8 COMPASS CAFETERIAS

Through the month of February, we have ratified eight contracts with Compass for over 400 cafeteria workers in:
  • Sony Studios (Compass/Wolfgang Puck),
  • Disney Glendale, Disney Burbank, NBC Universal, Dreamworks and CalArts (Compass/Bon Appetit)
  • Paramount, Raytheon (Compass/Eurest)
We won pensions for all, entry into the Local 11 health fund, which reduced monthly insurance premiums by hundreds of dollars, and $10.50 in wage increases between now and 2028. The new contracts will expire 2 weeks before the Olympics.

CONTRACT RATIFICATION FOR ARAMARK WORKERS AT BOEING SEAL BEACH

The cafeteria workers at Boeing in Seal Beach ratified a new contract with Aramark that will give them an immediate $7 raise that will increase to $10.50 for the lernght of the contract. Workers will also be part of the Local 11 health fund. Congratulations!!!