Kenia Nezario, an employee of Flying Food Group, said that workers were barred from attending the August 26 contract negotiation with Unite Here regarding health benefits. She accused the union of rejecting company proposals for direct insurance coverage. This statement was made during an interview.
“They didn’t even let us into the negotiation meeting about our own benefits,” said Nezario. “The union canceled the negotiation when employees started speaking up about the insurance quality. The company wanted to give us insurance directly, but the union said it was illegal and sued them for it. They tell employees the union provides the insurance, but it’s actually the company that funds it. The union just picks the plan.”
According to Business Daily Network, Flying Food Group (FFG) developed an alternative employee health plan aimed at expanding provider choice and improving coverage. However, UNITE HERE Local has blocked the company from offering this plan to employees due to a collective bargaining agreement that requires employees to remain on the union plan. The network quotes FFG management saying that the union’s contract language prevents the company from allowing employees to opt into the company plan, despite the company’s funding of the insurance. This contractual barrier is cited by FFG as a key obstacle in providing its alternative plan directly to workers.
Business Daily Network reports that FFG executives assert that even though they pay the premiums, the collective bargaining agreement grants the union control over selecting and managing the plan. This means that legally, the union can prevent FFG from directly offering an alternative to employees. The company argues that altering this situation would require renegotiating the contract or challenging specific contract language legally.
According to National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) public filings, Flying Food Group employees at their LAX/Inglewood facility have filed multiple unfair labor practice charges and pursued decertification activity against UNITE HERE Local 11. These actions reflect significant workplace tension between some employees and the union. The NLRB docket shows active cases involving representation disputes, with local outlets reporting allegations of intimidation and claims that union organizers barred some workers from attending benefit negotiations. These charged labor relations form part of FFG’s argument for offering a direct company option for insurance.
Nezario is identified as a dishroom employee at Flying Food Group in Los Angeles who has opposed Unite Here Local 11’s efforts to reinstate former lead Roberto Muñoz. She testified about harassment she and other women reportedly experienced under Muñoz and criticized the union for advocating his return. Sky Industry News identifies her as one of several female employees resisting union pressure in this matter.
