Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) faced severe disruptions as hundreds of protesters blocked major roads and forced people to abandon their cars, walking to the airport to catch flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The demonstrations, organized by Unite Here Local 11 workers, targeted Flying Food Group, one of LAX’s largest airline catering contractors. The protests brought traffic to a standstill around the airport’s main pickup and drop-off zones, with police in riot gear clearing the intersection after several hours.
A second protest broke out in Terminal 7 involving workers from USWW, the nation’s largest security officers union, highlighting the ongoing labor tensions in the sector. The union, Unite Here Local 11, is at the center of an escalating dispute with Flying Food Group over contract negotiations, with demands for higher wages and improved safety standards. Susan Minato, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, expressed the necessity of holding demonstrations during peak travel periods to draw attention to their concerns, stating, ‘Honestly, people don’t care about the people who make food and put it on their plates.’ In her view, the timing of the protest is a strategic move to ensure the issues being raised receive the necessary public and governmental attention.
Despite the disruptions, the union acknowledges the impact on holiday travelers and the broader implications for the industry. The protests are part of a broader pattern of labor actions aimed at influencing corporate policies and labor conditions. Earlier this year, the union successfully pushed for a city ordinance raising the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 by 2028, underscoring their growing influence and effectiveness in the labor movement.
As the holiday travel season continues, authorities are preparing for potential further disruptions, emphasizing the need for vigilance in ensuring the safety and efficiency of airport operations. The situation highlights the tension between workers’ rights and the operational needs of major transportation hubs, raising important questions about how labor disputes can affect public services and individual travel experiences.