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STRONGER WITH LOCAL 11!

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!

 

 

US CITIZENSHIP FAIR WITH YOUR LOCAL 11 LEGAL FUND—SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT BEFORE JULY 31: (213) 785-6999

Flier with details for a citizenship fair organized by the UNITE HERE Local 11 Legal Fund

August 27, 2026
LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE

Hosted by Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai, LLP
For UNITE HERE Local 11 Legal Fund members only

Work with an immigration attorney at no cost! You only pay 20% of the filing fee—$152. The Legal Fund covers the rest!

To get started, you’ll need to be Legal Fund eligible and provide the following:

  • California and FBI Fingerprint results
  • Your completed office questionnaire
  • Lawful Permanent Resident card
  • California ID or Driver’s license
  • If applicable, any divorce judgments or prior marriage termination documents

Call (213) 785-6999 before July 31, 2026 to schedule an appointment

Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai, LLP
250 E. 1st Street, Suite 1201, Los Angeles, CA 90012
[email protected]
www.hsrlegalfund.com

Local 8 strikers from Seattle come to LA

In Seattle members of UNITE HERE Local 8 have been on strike at the Embassy Suites for more than 30 days.  Two of these workers came to LA to join Local 11 members to delegate management at thethe Courtyard LA Live demanding that the hotel in Seattle sign the contract and end the strike! Solidarity is not just a word for all members of UNITE HERE, it’s a way of life!

Thank you to all SoFi workers for hosting a great World Cup

Thank you to all SoFi workers for hosting 8 games of the World Cup, including the inaugural game of the US National Men’s Team and two games of the eventual World Champions, Spain! Days before the first match, these workers negotiated a major contract with incredible raises and protections against ICE. They won before the first goal was scored, and thanks to them, this World Cup was a huge success!

Picketing at LAX

Workers picketed the American Airlines terminal protesting their Sky chefs contract. These workers are fighting for quality healthcare at LAX!

Congratulations to the newly elected leadership of Local 11

Congratulations to all elected leaders of Local 11 who where sworn in to serve for the next three years.

CO-PRESIDENTS

Ada Briceño
Kurt Petersen
Susan Minato

EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENTS

Karine Mansoorian (UNITE HERE Local 11)
Martha Santamaria (UNITE HERE Local 11)

VICE-PRESIDENTS

Armando Garcia (Bonaventure)
Beatriz Topete (UNITE HERE Local 11)
Jose Luis Acosta (Westdrift)
Marlene J. Mendoza (HMS Host LAX)
Thomas Fleming (Costa Mesa Hilton)

RECORDING SECRETARY

Liliana Hernandez (Fairmont Miramar/UNITE HERE Local 11)

CHAPLAIN

Graciela Gomez (The Hotel June)

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Barbara Michelle Standley (Anaheim Hilton/UNITE HERE Local 11)
Brittany Williams (The Shay Hotel/UNITE HERE Local 11)
Debra Lewis (LAX/HMS Host)
Florinda Santiago (The Hotel June)
Gary Duplessis (LAX/Flying Food Group)
Isabel Brentner (Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
Jose Cano (Universal Studios Hollywood)
Maria del Carmen Meza (UNITE HERE Local 11)
Maria Buenrostro ( LA Convention Center/UNITE HERE Local 11)
Martha Esquivel (Holiday Inn LAX)
Mercedes Flores (Sheraton Grand)
Nathan Delgadillo (Disneyland Hotel/UNITE HERE Local 11)
Saturnino Beltran (Disney Central Bakery)
Scott Matos-Elliott (HMS Host PHX)
Yolanda Hernandez (Tempe Mission Palms)

CHAIR OF TRUSTEES

Alice Stanford (J.W. Marriott)

TRUSTEES

Benigno Vargas Aviña (Pomona College)
Jose Calderon (The Line LA)

Sports Slidarity with Harry Marino: Interview with Local 11 Co-President Kurt Petersern

Host Harry Marino talks with Local 11 Co-President Kurt Petersen about how the union identified the World Cup as a moment of maximum leverage and secured top priorities for membership. Get a behind-the-scenes look into a masterclass in labor negotiating.

COMPASS WORKERS IN ARIZONA WIN A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

Compass workers in the American Airline lounges have reached a tentative agreement!! Workers won significant raises, better benefits, and a new standard for airport lounge workers. This victory comes as workers were on day 3 of their strike over the contract. When we fight, we win!

Thank you so much to all of the elected leaders who came out and who have supported Compass workers in the American Airline Lounges in their fight for a new contract: Yassamin Ansari ,Greg Stanton, Lauren Kuby, Brian Garcia, Representative Lorena Austin Contreras, Councilwoman Betty Guardado, Bobby Nichols, Lisbeth Arescurenaga, and Armando Montero

The Copper Courier: American Airlines lounge workers at Sky Harbor strike for better working conditions

Workers in the America Airlines Lounges at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport walked off the job on Wednesday morning over stalled negotiations for a better contract with their employer, Compass Eurest, a subcontractor for the airline.

Veteran’s Town Hall

VetsFwd, Worker Power, and UNITE HERE Local 11 co-hosted a town hall to gather veterans, veteran families, union members, and community allies to discuss the issues facing veteran’s right now as a result of an authoritarian federal government and its cuts to essential programs and services.
The panel featured Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Army veteran and UNITE HERE Local 11 director Beatriz Topete, and Vets Forward Executive Director Ricardo Reyes.
We talked about the issues impacting veterans and our communities right now, from defending democracy to supporting immigrant families, deported veterans, working people, and everyone who has served.
Thank you to the Vets Forward members who showed up, asked questions, helped build the room, and continue to lead from the front. Veterans are not sitting on the sidelines. They are organizing, building power, and fighting for the communities we swore to protect.

Wages increase for Hotel Workers on the first of July


This increase is due to the hard work and dedication of hotel workers and unions across Los Angeles.

Airline Caterer Flying Food Group with Record of Worker Abuse Receives “Yellow Card,” Placed on 6-Month Probation by City of LA

In the wake of numerous complaints about worker safety and other abuses, the body that runs LAX – Los Angeles World Airports or “LAWA” – has decided to put a major airline caterer for international flights, Flying Food Group, on a status akin to probation.

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.

In response to persistent complaints from workers, LAWA has now decided to deny FFG an ordinary five-year license, and instead issue the company a conditional term for a period of just six months.  It is expected that LAX will continue an ongoing investigation of FFG’s record during this period to determine whether the conditional license should be continued. (READ MORE)

Solidarity with the striking workers of locals 8, 26, and 274

Solidarity with our union sisters and brothers who went on strike June 22 at the Embassy Suites Seattle Downtown and the Sheraton Downtown Philadelphia, two FIFA World Cup cities where workers are fighting for dignity, fair wages, and to keep ICE out. Stay strong comrades, and hold the line!

On June 25 at 3:00 a.m., concession workers at Rhode Island’s T. F. Green International Airport went on strike. People from all over the world are traveling to Providence for the World Cup. But before watching the soccer matches, they are encountering picket lines at the airport of workers fighting for a better life. We stand with you, strikers! Sí se puede!

We are keeping an eye on th Areas concession workers at Boston Logan International Airport who have authorized a strike and are on strike alert!

Victory at the Greek Theater

The superb new contract for the workers at the Greek Theatre includes an across the board wage increase for non-tipped workers of $10. Cashiers and servers won a $5 an hour raise. Starting in October Greek Theatre workers will be covered by the our excellent Local 11 Health and Dental Insurance!

On subcontracting, we won a cap that shrinks every year, cutting the maximum allowable subcontracted hours by 50% with enforceable penalties: every hour Legends subcontracts over the cap costs them a full Prep Cook wage plus all benefits, and we decide where that money goes.

Ended the Non-Profit Operator in the stands which adds 30 new union jobs starting in the 2027 season.

Cooks and cashiers at the Franklin Market and Cafe became part of the Greek Theatre bargaining unit and are now covered with the same raises, benefits, and rights. Franklin Cafe cooks won a $14 an hour raise!

Aost importantly, the contract expires on April 30, 2028, joining 20,000 Local 11 members for maximum leverage heading into the Games.

WE MAKE THE WORLD CUP HAPPEN

Standing with Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs

Michele who is a restaurant worker at the Phoenix Point Hilton in Phoenix joined Gov. Katie Hobbs and other elected leaders and community to celebrate the passing of a new state budget that included no tax on tips or overtime! That means more money in hands of working people. This was possible because of the amazing leaders that our union helped get elected.

LAX: Two New Contract Ratifications

Workers in LAX at both Soto & Sanchez / I Love LA and SoCal Concessions ratified new contracts that will bring over $10 in raises, more money to maintain their free family healthcare, and big increases in their pension.

The new contract for Soto & Sanchez / I Love LA covers about 30 workers and was ratified on June 22. The new contract for Jackmont / SoCal Concessions covers around 90 workers and was ratified May 11. Congratulations, to ev eryone involved… and sí se puede!