Tourism workers launch campaign against petition targeting Olympic Wage

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GLOBAL INDUSTRY NEWS

Kurt Petersen Co-President | Unite Here Local 11

By Sky Industry News

Jun 21, 2025

Over a hundred tourism workers in Los Angeles have launched the "Defend The Wage LA" campaign to oppose a petition from the tourism industry aimed at overturning the Olympic Wage. This wage increase, set at $30 by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, was achieved after extensive efforts by room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, airline catering, and airport workers.

Maria Torres, a dishwasher at Flying Food Group and member of UNITE HERE Local 11, emphasized her struggle for the wage to support her family in Honduras. She plans to move due to high living costs in Los Angeles. "I will be out there every day educating voters about the bosses’ phony petition and urging them not to sign," she said.

Kurt Petersen, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11, likened the situation to "David versus Goliath," accusing Delta and United Airlines and the hotel industry of trying to undermine worker wages. He urged people to report anti-Olympic Wage petition circulators.

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The tourism industry has reportedly spent over $1 million opposing this wage increase and is expected to spend more on a referendum. Major funding comes from Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and the American Hotel & Lodging Association. In contrast, CEO compensations have significantly increased over recent years.

David Huerta of SEIU United Service Workers West criticized these companies for prioritizing profit over fair wages for working families in L.A., while Jovan Houston from LAX expressed disappointment over airlines' actions against their own employees' interests.

Jessica Durrum of LAANE’s Tourism Workers Rising coalition highlighted past successes in defending living wage laws against corporate challenges. She expressed confidence that united efforts would uphold these protections.

UNITE HERE Local 11 has previously succeeded in passing similar wage increases across various cities since 2016.

Information from this article can be found here.