Lucy Osoro, general manager of Flying Food Group, said that the company is experiencing financial strain and facing unfair competition due to inconsistent enforcement of the Living Wage Ordinance. This statement was made during a meeting of the Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Board of Commissioners.
“Flying Food Group has catered international flights out of LAX for almost thirty years,” said Osoro. “We are operating in a financially difficult environment due to the implementation of the Living Wage Ordinance and the upcoming Olympic Wages. The City of Los Angeles is singling out Flying Food Group by requiring us to pay all employees at or above the Living Wage Ordinance minimums. We are at risk of losing customers to these Aircraft Food Service providers due to this unfair advantage and needing to lay off employees.”
According to the Los Angeles World Airport, the City of Los Angeles Living Wage Ordinance mandates that certain city contractors and lessees pay employees a minimum wage above the state minimum, along with providing paid time off and health benefits. As of July 1, 2024, for “Airport Employees,” the living wage and health benefits hourly rates increased to $19.28 per hour and $5.95 per hour, respectively, or $25.23 per hour if health benefits are not provided. These requirements apply to service contractors, lessees, licensees, City financial assistance recipients, and their subcontractors operating at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
As reported by UniteHere, in May 2015, the City of Los Angeles notified Flying Food Group that it had not paid 271 employees at its Imperial Highway kitchen since May 1, 2010. The city called for retroactive restitution to these employees and emphasized compliance with existing wage ordinances. This action highlighted the city’s commitment to enforcing wage standards among its contractors and lessees.
According to the Los Angeles Times, in response to the city’s order, Flying Food Group filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles. The company said that the city had changed its position on a previous agreement only after union activities by Unite Here. Flying Food Group contended that the enforcement of the LWO was inconsistent and that it was being unfairly targeted compared to other service providers at LAX. This legal action underscored the complexities and disputes surrounding the ordinance’s enforcement.
Osoro has served as General Manager of Flying Food Group’s Los Angeles facility since January 2019, overseeing operations at one of the busiest airline catering hubs in the country. Before joining Flying Food Group, she spent over two decades with NAS Airport Services Ltd in Nairobi, Kenya, where she held multiple senior roles in inflight catering and airline service management. Her extensive experience spans operational leadership, contracts administration, and international airline coordination.
