Leticia Marchán, an employee of Flying Food Group, reported experiencing threats, harassment, and being followed by union representatives after she filed a petition to decertify Unite Here Local 1. Marchán made this statement during an interview.
“We’ve been paying the union since it came in, and we’ve never gotten any benefit from the union, but they are taking money from us monthly,” said Marchán. “I think the union found out I was collecting signatures, so they told people not to sign the petition. Now with these scandals the union caused, how they treated us, people are scared. They started yelling at me, asking why I was doing this to the employees, telling me to repent for what I was doing, and that last part felt like a threat.”
According to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), under U.S. labor law, employees have the right to petition for union decertification if they believe their union no longer represents their interests. These efforts are protected from employer or union retaliation under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). However, documented cases indicate that workers seeking to decertify unions sometimes report facing intimidation or threats from union representatives. Such actions can undermine union security and influence the outcome of the process. The NLRB investigates claims of coercion or threats during decertification campaigns and may set aside results if unlawful intimidation is proven.
The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reports that union representation elections and related activities, including decertification, are often contentious. Documented cases reveal that workers have experienced intimidation or interference from both union representatives and employers. EPI emphasizes that intimidation remains a concern in labor relations, especially in large workplaces like airport catering companies where union density is high. The institute underscores the importance of robust oversight and worker education to ensure all voices are protected in labor representation processes.
A recent report from Labour Relations Insight titled “New Unions, New Tensions” outlines that workers seeking to decertify unions frequently encounter organized opposition from union leadership. This includes pressure campaigns and warnings against participating in petition drives. According to this analysis, there has been a rise in decertification filings over recent years accompanied by union strategies aimed at discouraging dissent through meetings, messaging campaigns, and peer pressure.
Marchán has worked at Flying Food Group at Chicago O’Hare Airport for nearly 14 years, primarily preparing cold food and salads for airline catering. In an interview, she said she initiated the decertification petition against Unite Here Local 1 due to what she described as a lack of benefits from the union. Marchán reported that while union dues were deducted monthly, workers never received meaningful help or representation. In her interview, she detailed experiencing harassment and intimidation by union representatives, which she says has left many coworkers too fearful to participate in the decertification process despite widespread dissatisfaction with the union’s performance.
