During the Thanksgiving travel period, hundreds of travelers were forced to abandon their cars and walk to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as protests blocked key roads around the airport. The demonstrations, organized by Unite Here Local 11 workers, targeted the airline catering company Flying Food Group, with protesters marching onto Century Boulevard and shutting down traffic around LAX’s main pickup and drop-off zones. Police in riot gear were called in to clear the intersection shortly after 6:15 p.m., gradually allowing traffic to resume after the protest.
Another protest broke out in Terminal 7 on Wednesday morning, involving workers from USWW, the nation’s largest security officers union. The demonstrations, which have been ongoing, center on an escalating labor dispute with Flying Food Group, one of LAX’s largest airline catering contractors. Unite Here Local 11 and Flying Food Group employees are demanding a new contract with higher wages, citing safety and labor concerns. Susan Minato, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, told FOX 11 that the union is advocating for better working conditions, stating, “Honestly, people don’t care about the people who make food and put it on their plates.” She emphasized the need for better treatment of food service workers, arguing that the timing of the protests during peak travel periods was necessary to draw attention to the issue.
The labor dispute is part of a broader trend of rising concerns over minimum wage and labor rights. Earlier this year, the union successfully pushed for a city ordinance in California raising the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 by 2028. Despite the union’s efforts, the situation at LAX highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing workers’ rights with the logistical demands of a major international airport, especially during peak travel times. Meanwhile, broader flight delays and cancellations have been reported, with airlines advising travelers to book backup tickets. The disruptions have raised concerns about the impact on the travel industry and the potential for further economic ripple effects due to the holiday season.
Preliminary reports suggest that the protests were not expected to disrupt vehicle access to the airport, although law enforcement remained on high alert. The New York Post reported that authorities were still preparing for possible disruptions amid the main holiday travel rush. The situation underscores the complexities of managing large-scale protests in high-traffic areas, where tensions between labor rights and public safety can escalate quickly. As the holiday season continues, the potential for further disruptions at LAX remains a point of concern for both travelers and airport authorities.