Jorge Jacobo, a former employee of Flying Food Group (FFG), has claimed that he and 13 coworkers were dismissed after protesting for improved working conditions. His dismissal, however, was officially attributed to time theft. Jacobo made this statement during a commission meeting.
“I was terminated for protesting for better conditions,” said Jacobo. “Like my 13 other workers who were terminated. I was terminated for supposedly theft of time for getting my key card.”
According to sources at FFG, Jacobo was terminated for time theft following an internal review of recorded work hours. These sources assert that his termination was unrelated to the loss of a key card or participation in protest activities. The decision, they say, was based on discrepancies documented in timekeeping records.
Time theft is considered a serious form of misconduct in employment law and is often treated as “theft” of wages or services by employers. Legal commentary indicates that even circumstantial evidence, such as time records and access logs, may suffice to justify termination for time theft.
The American Payroll Association reports that time theft, including practices like “buddy punching” or unauthorized absences from the workplace, costs U.S. businesses up to 7% of their annual payroll. In industries such as food service and catering—where labor margins are narrow and shift timing is critical—time theft not only inflates labor costs but also disrupts production and service schedules. These pressures make strict enforcement of attendance and timekeeping policies essential for employers like Flying Food Group, which serves airlines operating on tight turnaround schedules.
Jacobo has been identified in union materials as an employee at Los Angeles International Airport who participated in labor disputes and worker organizing efforts. His name appears in the context of contract conflicts and unfair labor practice filings tied to Unite Here Local 11. Beyond these union-related documents, detailed public records on his career or background remain limited, with references largely tied to Flying Food Group labor actions.
Flying Food Group, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Chicago, is a major airline catering and food services provider supplying meals to more than 100 airline, retail, and institutional clients. The company operates across major U.S. hubs and employs between 1,000 and 5,000 workers, including about 350 at LAX who are represented by Unite Here Local 11. Its history includes multiple National Labor Relations Board charges and union disputes.
