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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!

 

 

Grand Opening of Local 11’s UNITE HERE Health and Dental Center

You are invited to the Grand Opening Celebration of our UNITE HERE Health and Dental Center, at 9 am on August 19, 2026.

Our union has fought hard for many years to build the best, most cost-effective health and dental care for service workers in the country.

We hope you can make it.  All of us deserve to celebrate this achievement.

 

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

WORKER VICTORY: AZ ELECTEDS CALL ON ARAMARK TO TAKE ACTION!

The Industrial Commission of Arizona has found in favor of four airline catering workers alleging unpaid wages from Aramark. The workers, who are refugees from Sudan and Afghanistan, are estimated to be owed more than $2,500 in total.

The original charges were filed in February, and the case highlights why wage enforcement matters, especially for workers who are often the most vulnerable.

Thank you to Brian Garcia and Lauren Kuby for taking the lead and writing to Aramark about these wage complaints and always standing with workers!

VICTORY AT THE BEVERLY HILTON

Forty-seven workers at The Beverly Hilton who are being displaced by renovations at their hotel are receiving severance packages totaling over $6.6 million! Sixteen other workers were reassigned to new classifications and were able to keep their jobs at the hotel. All thanks to their union contract!

SAVE JOBS AT DANA POINT MARINA INN

Labor leaders, clergy, and community supporters rallied this AM outside the Dana Point Marina Inn calling on Harbor developers to protect the jobs of workers at the Dana Point Marina Inn as the County-owned Dana Point Harbor undergoes redevelopment.

BREAKING NEWS: ALL CHARGES AGAINST DAVID HUERTA HAVE BEEN DISMISSED

The charges against SEIU-USWW President David Huerta have been dismissed by hte US Department of Justice. They tried to silence a union leader while he peacefully protested an ICE raid. They maced, tackled and arrested him. But did not succeed in silencing him. This is more than a legal victory. It is a victory for every worker who speaks up for justice, dignity, and the right to organize.

Hailin Shan Won His Job Back!

Hailin Shan, a cook who led other cooks in the 2023 Flying Food strike and was fired on July 2023. Through arbitration it was determined that there was “no just cause to terminate” and the arbitrator ordered the company to bring him back to work with full back pay. Hailin will now return to the Flying Food kitchen to resume working there. He will also be getting backpay going all the way to his termination date in July 2023. Welcome back Hailin!

Kimpton La Peer workers are asking for a fair process to organize a union!

Workers at the Kimpton La Peer in West Hollywood are asking for a fair process to organize a union. They were joined in the picket line by CLUE: Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, Chelsea Lee Byers and Stephen Post for West Hollywood City Council, Helen Krieger, Mark R. Edwards, Andrew Solomon, Westside Young Dems, and APALA Los Angeles Chapter.
And thanks to California Senator Ben Allen who came to the picket line to hear from the workers and express his solidarity with their efforts.

New round of negotiations for Disney workers

More than 500 cast members met for negotiations with Disney. The company failed to bring forth a productive economic wage proposal. Cast members also spoke out about how they felt working unsafe workloads and claimed they often times are forced to work in the “Red Zone” due to lack of staffing and space.

Solidarity is a way of life: 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!

ITM: Universal Studio Workers Near Breaking Point Over Alleged “Poverty Wages”

“I’ve seen ‘We are not your minions’, ‘Don’t be a Grinch’, and ‘Universal runs on union power’ for months now,” the guest wrote. “Suddenly, I’m seeing ones that say ‘No more poverty wages’, so I figured things must have gotten worse if they stepped away from the cutesy messaging.”

SkyChefs workers are fighting for quality healthcare

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

Contract ratification at Burbank Airport

Workers of Hudson at the Burbank Airport ratified their first union contract. These workers won raises, healthcare, pension, and the legal fund. This contract will cover 19 workers. Congratulations!

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 Solidarity with Harry Marino: Interview with Local 11 Co-President Kurt Petersen

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 NEW CONTRACT AFTER A 3-DAY STRIKE

Compass workers in the American Airline lounges won a new contract!!! 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.

Bobby Nichols is new Tempe City Council Member!

Congratulations to Tempe’s newest council member! We are so excited to have leaders in office like Bobby that will stand up for working people all across Tempe.

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)