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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.

 

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UNION FIGHTS AND VICTORIES!

 

 

CAPITAL & MAIN: Did Los Angeles City Hall Blink by Delaying the Olympic Wage?

In the end, Elisa Valencia, who works for Flying Food Group, was left wondering what exactly happened to her vision for the future. She said she has been putting in serious overtime, sometimes working 13-hour days at the airline food company in order to keep up with the rising cost of living in Los Angeles.
Her wage is going to rise from $22.50 to $25 an hour this summer, a welcome first step toward some relief. But Valencia said knowing that the $30 figure was only two years off had made the thought of logging so many hours tolerable.
Now? “Four years away,” Valencia said. The idea of getting into an apartment large enough for her kids, she added, is once again on the back burner, lost to the larger struggle to keep life going in L.A

LA PRIDE

It was an honor for local 11 members and staff to march in this year’s LA Pride parade along with and all our allied unions, community groups, faith groups, queer groups, —and even our public utilities companies!

ACTION: Fast Profits, Furious Workers at Universal Studios

NBCUniversal is raking in the profits. In 2024, its theme parks division alone made $2.9 billion, enough to pay one of its parent company’s CEOs $33.9 million.

But the workers who make the Universal Studios theme park run are struggling to stay housed. And instead of recognizing our hard work, the company has proposed to one of our unions what will amount to a pay cut.

NY TIMES: SoFi Stadium workers given "Kick ICE Out" button by union ahead of World Cup

NYT — The Athletic: SoFi Stadium workers given ‘Kick ICE Out’ buttons by union ahead of USMNT-Paraguay

“These workers are hospitality professionals. Their job is to welcome guests and provide world-class service to every fan who walks through the gates. But it’s hard to create a welcoming environment when workers and their communities are living in fear. They’re wearing this button because they want a World Cup that’s safe and welcoming for everyone at SoFi.

“No employer, no stadium operator, and not even FIFA gets to take away workers’ voices when it comes to the safety of their families and communities. And from what we’re hearing, fans love the message too. Some are even asking for the buttons.”

 

Mother Jones: The World Cup’s First Score: Union 1, Owners 0

In a 99-1 vote Wednesday night, food and beverage workers staffing Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium for the FIFA Men’s World Cup ratified an agreement that includes better wages and protections around immigration enforcement—a high-profile labor victory after months of dispute over poor pay and work without a contract amid huge employer revenues.

VICTORY AT SOFI STADIUM

Just days before the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, approximately food and beverage workers at SoFi Stadium have ratified a historic new contract with Legends Hospitality by an overwhelming 99% vote. The contract will go into effect immediately.

SEVEN DAYS IN JUNE

Local 11 Co-President Susan Minato spoke at the LA action of the “Seven Days in June” to draw attention to the devastating cuts to healthcare funding that will come into effect after the midterm elections.

The week of coordinated actions across the US and Canada was organized by a coalition of unions and community organizations including UNITE HERE International Union and Cleve Jones, a longtime advocate for healthcare for the LGBTQ community.

The LA event where our Co-President Susan Minato spoke was hosted by Richard Zaldivar of the Wall Las Memorias. For more information about the the Seven Days in June campaign visit the website sevendaysinjune.org.

 

Signal Tribune: Two women file harassment claims against Long Beach Yacht Club

“The two women, Julianne Perez and Vanessa Wainer, allege they experienced verbal abuse, intimidation and harassment from the club’s executive chef, Ken Haselwood, whom they say specifically targeted pregnant women. In their complaints, they say they raised their concerns with the club’s human resources department and the Long Beach Yacht Club General Manager Norm Rich multiple times over the last three years and their concerns were never addressed.”

California Primary Victories!

We are proud to support and congratulate these amazing candidates in winning their primary election! Keep an eye out for our full voter guide for the November election.

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

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!

LA TIMES: In deal with business leaders, $30 minimum wage for L.A. hotel and airport workers will be delayed

In May 2025, the council approved a proposal that would have increased the minimum wage to $30 in July 2028 and also raised an hourly payment for healthcare coverage.

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!