The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation announced that a Flying Food Group employee at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has filed federal charges alleging harassment, intimidation, and physical confrontation by UNITE HERE Local 11 due to opposition to the union.
According to the foundation, Kenia Solano, an employee of Flying Food Group at LAX, filed federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charges in April 2025. Solano alleges sustained harassment and intimidation by UNITE HERE Local 11 officials, including an incident where a shop steward allegedly threw a washing bin at her after she voiced opposition to union control. The charges also claim that union representatives manipulated coworkers to isolate her and warned that her dissent might lead to job loss. These claims follow a previous charge from September 2024 by another employee who said union organizers incited a mob demanding their coworker’s termination.
A report from June 2025 indicates that UNITE HERE Local 11 is facing a third round of federal unfair labor practice charges from Flying Food Group employees at LAX. Worker Esperanza Maciel alleges fresh incidents of harassment and mob-like intimidation related to her resistance to union alignment. These repeated complaints before the NLRB suggest an ongoing environment of workplace coercion and retaliation against dissenting employees.
According to the watchdog site Eyes On 11, during the COVID-19 pandemic, UNITE HERE Local 11 raised dues on unemployed members despite industry shutdowns and opposed efforts to reopen the hospitality sector while calling for strict lockdowns. The union also deployed members for political campaigns while local hotels remained closed. Critics argue this reflects a prioritization of political influence over the economic welfare of its members.
A May 2023 press release from PR Newswire states that a coalition of Los Angeles hotels, including major brands such as Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott, filed multiple unfair labor practice charges against UNITE HERE Local 11. The hotels allege that the union unlawfully refused to bargain in good faith and engaged in disruptive conduct during contract negotiations.
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation was established in 1968 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating coercive union power and compulsory unionism abuses. It pursues its mission through strategic litigation and educational programs aimed at protecting workers’ rights regarding union affiliation.
