Local 11 members win. A lot. We are more than 32,000 workers across Southern California and Arizona, and we campaign constantly to improve our workplaces, organize new workers, and build power for working people in our communities. Check out these highlights from our union’s recent victories and learn about all the different ways we are getting stronger in a union.
CHECK OUT OUR RECENT UNION HIGHLIGHTS!
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.”
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.
Grievance Victory at the Anaheim Convention Center
LA TIMES: In deal with business leaders, $30 minimum wage for L.A. hotel and airport workers will be delayed
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.
Tom Steyer—Alongside SoFi Stadium Workers—Calls for ICE Out of FIFA World Cup Alongside SoFi Stadium Workers
With less than a month away from the FIFA World Cup, the cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, who cook the food and make the drinks for Sofi Stadium held a press conference with Gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer ahead of negotiations.
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.
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!
Workers and clergy speak out against Airbnb
Dozens of workers, clergy and faith leaders gathered in a powerful and moral speak-out at City Hall and testified at public comment during the LA’s Planning & Land Use Management Committee where Airbnb is attempting to roll back short-term rental regulations in LA.
Faith leaders called on Mayor Bass to protect housing and our communities’ most vulnerable unhoused neighbors.
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!
Aramark Workers At Arizona State University Protest During Graduation
Dining hall workers at ASU have been actively fighting for a fair contract since September 2025. Workers, community, and graduates peacefully protested during Arizona State University’s Undergraduate graduation on May 11. See pictures of the protest here.
Protesters were on a public sidewalk when ASU Police arrested 2 union organizers. During the arrest, one of the arrested organizers was forced to the ground while the strap of a bullhorn tightened around her neck, making it difficult for her to breathe. The other was arrested after attempting to alert officers to the situation and later received medical confirmation of a fractured wrist sustained during the arrest. See the arrest video here.
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
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.
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.
Sign the following petition!
Union Ally Adine Oberlander Forman, Executive Director of the HTA, is honored by LAANE
HTA Executive Director Adine Oberlander Forman was honored by the The Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) at their annual “Women for a New Los Angeles” luncheon.
Under Adine’s transformative leadership, the HTA has become a nationally recognized workforce development organization that has changed lives and communities. She was honored for her deep commitment to advancing economic justice, elevating working conditions in the hospitality sector, and designing national best practices in workforce development across her 30-year career.
UNITE HERE LOCAL 11 2026 ENDORSEMENTS
UNITE HERE Local 11 proudly announces its endorsement of Tom Steyer for Governor. Click here to see all our other endorsements for this election cycle.
Phoenix Convention Center Workers Protest Border Security Conference
When workers raised concerns about their safety and requested that Aramark keep DHS personnel away from food service areas, staying consistent with prior commitments allegedly made by the company. Aramark declined to do so. Workers were joined on the picketline by Rep. Yassamin Ansari
LA TIMES: SoFi Stadium workers threaten to strike if ICE isn’t banned from World Cup games
MAY DAY IN LA AND AZ
On May Day 2026, workers in LA marched with immigrant rights, community & labor and rallied outside the FIFA offices in DTLA where we dropped hundreds of soccer balls saying KICK ICE OUT!!
In Phoenix we marched with hundreds to stand up for workers rights at Arizona State University and the Phoenix Convention Center where worklers are fighting for a contract.