An employee of Flying Food Group, a foodservice provider at Los Angeles International Airport, has filed federal charges against the Unite Here Local 11 union. Kenia Solano alleges that union officials have harassed and intimidated her due to her opposition to the union's influence. Solano submitted her charges to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region 21 with assistance from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation attorneys.
"Unite Here has been a terrible presence in our workplace. Our contracts are bad and union representatives treat me and anyone who disagrees even a little bit with the union like we are evil," Solano said. "The law is supposed to protect my right to disagree with the union and tell my coworkers that we are better off without it, but union bosses have not respected those rights at all and just keep harassing me."
The NLRB is responsible for enforcing federal labor laws, including resolving disputes involving management, unions, and employees. Solano’s charges claim she has faced harassment since June 2024 due to her criticism of the union. The charges describe incidents where Unite Here shop stewards allegedly manipulated other employees against Solano and falsely claimed her actions could lead to job losses.
In December 2024, tensions escalated when "[u]nion shop steward Esperanza Montes aggressively seized a…washing bin from [Solano] and violently threw it on the ground," according to the charges. After reporting this incident, Solano was further berated by Montes in front of her supervisor.
Another employee, Esperanza Maciel, previously filed charges against Local 11 for inciting a mob demanding her termination. These allegations form part of broader legal challenges supported by Foundation attorneys against Unite Here’s tactics nationwide.
"Unite Here Local 11 officials may as well change the union’s name to ‘Unite Here or else,’" commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. He emphasized workers' rights to oppose unions without fear of retaliation.
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation provides free legal aid for employees facing compulsory unionism abuses. They handle approximately 200 cases annually across the U.S.
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