Saying they don’t have enough tools or manpower to do their work, about 175 employees of Chicago, Ill. airline catering company Flying Food Group protested Tuesday outside one of the company’s kitchens in Los Angeles.
Cooks, food preparers, food packagers, dishwashers and drivers say Flying Food is not supplying equipment such as knives, scoops and utensils, and is not hiring enough staff to keep up with the firm’s growing list of airline clients.
Employees stopped working early Tuesday at the kitchen on West Imperial Highway in Los Angeles, one of three local Flying Food locations, said Rafael Leon, a cook for Flying Food. Workers were also scheduled to go to City Hall and speak during the public comment period of the city council meeting, then protest at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at the Los Angeles International Airport, according to a press release issued by UniteHere, a labor union that represents workers in foodservice, transportation and other industries.
UnitedHere spokeswoman Meghan Cohorst said Flying Food employees are not unionized, but that union members support the workers.
Flying Food did not return calls for comment.
Leon said he has called on the company repeatedly to provide him knives to cut the food he prepares and has had to buy his own. He said the problems has intensified as Flying Food has added more airline customers. The Imperial Highway kitchen now makes meals for 11 airlines, up from five a year ago, Leon said.
“I’m asking for things – trays, equipment, knives – to do my own job,” Leon said. “We already talked to the company and gave them the opportunity to give us what we need. We’re tired of it.”
Leon said a letter the employees sent to company executives outlining their equipment and staffing needs went unanswered.
Flying Food, with $436 million in revenue, serves 70 airlines, primarily international carriers. It has three locations in the Los Angeles area, two in Los Angeles and one in Harbor City. The catering company has 20 production kitchens across the country.
