Tom Biland, Chief Operating Officer of Flying Food Group, said that the company’s collaboration with RWDSU/UFCW Local 1102 reflects a broader effort to support employees beyond the workplace. The statement was made in an interview.
“At Flying Food Group, we believe that empowering our people strengthens our entire community,” said Biland. “This collaboration with RWDSU/UFCW Local 1102 demonstrates our ongoing commitment to supporting our team members. Not just in the workplace, but in every aspect of their lives.”
According to Flying Food Group, the organization has partnered with RWDSU/UFCW Local 1102 to expand support for its workforce, particularly focusing on empowering employees beyond the workplace through supportive community initiatives. The collaboration includes webinars such as those on immigrant rights and opportunities to change immigration status, reflecting a broader dedication to employee well-being that goes beyond traditional labor contracts.
UFCW reported in June 2021, over 200 Flying Food Group employees in Honolulu, Kailua-Kona, and Lihue voted overwhelmingly to unionize with UFCW Local 480, citing improved access to wages and benefits similar to those received by their colleagues at JFK and Newark under RWDSU/UFCW Local 1102 contracts. These employees sought parity with colleagues already represented by RWDSU/UFCW Local 1102 at other locations. The initiative signals a growing trend of union organization within Flying Food Group’s operations.
According to National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) records, a certification election conducted in October 2008 at Flying Food Group’s Newark, New Jersey facility resulted in 214 votes in favor of representation by Local 1102 (RWDSU/UFCW), compared to 120 votes against. This ultimately certified the union as the representative of approximately 386 full-time and part-time production and maintenance employees. This demonstrates the union’s formal recognition and presence in the workplace dating back over a decade.
Biland is President and COO of Flying Food Group and has more than 12 years of leadership experience within the company, including prior roles as Regional General Manager and General Manager. He began his career in the airline catering and food production industries, holding senior roles at LSG Sky Chefs and Ogden Corporation. Biland holds an associate degree in culinary arts from The Culinary Institute of America and is recognized for his strengths in negotiation, operations management, and food and beverage service, according to his LinkedIn profile.
