UNITE HERE Local 11’s latest Department of Labor filing shows the union spent nearly $4 million more than it collected in 2024, prompting the liquidation of investments and the use of cash reserves to maintain operations. This financial strategy has raised concerns among members regarding spending priorities.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2024 LM-2 report, UNITE HERE Local 11 reported total receipts of $15,859,962 and total disbursements of $19,680,211, resulting in a deficit of nearly $3.9 million.
The union addressed this shortfall by liquidating $1,607,687 in investments and utilizing its cash assets, as outlined in Schedules 10 and 11 of the report. This approach enabled Local 11 to continue operations despite overspending.
In 2024, significant funds were allocated by UNITE HERE Local 11 to legal and arbitration expenses and over $1.4 million to overhead and administrative costs.
Despite collecting dues from members, spending on direct member benefits such as health, dental, and retirement contributions constituted less than 10% of total disbursements.
The LM-2 filing further details that Local 11 spent $999,230 on political activities and lobbying while paying another $859,784 for shared expenses with the national union. Together these categories accounted for over $1.8 million—more than what was spent on direct benefits for union members.
The financial disclosures show that UNITE HERE Local 11 paid $1,055,894 in legal fees, $1,261,583 for office rent, and $590,599 in general office expenses. These figures illustrate substantial fixed costs necessary for maintaining the union’s infrastructure.
Leadership compensation is also documented within the report; co-presidents Kurt Petersen and Susan Minato each received salaries exceeding $137,000 with Minato receiving an additional reimbursement for official business expenses. Other officers like political director Ada Briceño were similarly compensated.
UNITE HERE Local 11 represents more than 32,000 hospitality workers across Southern California and Arizona.
A detailed breakdown of UNITE HERE Local 11’s financial allocations is provided below:
UNITE HERE Local 11 – 2024 Detailed Financial Overview
| Category | Amount (USD) | % of Total Disbursements |
|---|---|---|
| Total Receipts | 15839821 | N/A |
| Total Disbursements | 19626875 | 1 |
| Net Deficit | -3787054 | -0.193 |
| Investment Liquidation | 1624687 | N/A |
| Member-Focused Spending | ||
| Direct Member Benefits | 2131642 | 0.109 |
| Compensation & Overhead | ||
| Officer & Employee Compensation | 8213093 | 0.418 |
| Administrative & Overhead | 2859016 | 0.146 |
| Office Rent | 1211468 | 0.062 |
| General Office Expenses | 589996 | 0.03 |
| Political & Legal Activities | ||
| Political Activities & Lobbying | 999230 | 0.051 |
| Shared Expenses with Affiliates | 859784 | 0.044 |
| Legal Fees | 1009954 | 0.051 |
