Despite having more than 20,000 dues-paying members, a Los Angeles labor union that spent heavily in a losing Orange County referendum ended 2022 with less than 2,000 in cash.
That’s according to the U.S. Department of Labor disclosure for Unite Here Local 11, which represents Southern California and Arizona workers working in hotels, restaurants, airports and convention centers.
The “Form LM-2 Labor Organization Annual Report," required for labor unions collecting more than $250,000 in dues each year, was filed with the agency on March 31 and signed by the union’s co-presidents, Ada F. Briceño and Susan M. Minato.
Briceño also works as chairman of the Democratic Party of Orange County.
The federal filing shows that Unite Here Local 11 collected $13.97 million in dues from its 20,394 members between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2022.
It had $693,783 in cash at the beginning of the year, and $1,651 at year end.
In contrast, the Los Angeles-based union local ended 2020 with $2.47 million in cash and 2019 with $4.32 million.
One reason for the dramatic change: Unite Here Local 11 spent a record $2.67 million on politics and “gifts” last year, targeting the Nov. 8, 2022 elections, including a losing Orange County minimum wage referendum, and Los Angeles’ mayoral race between Karen Bass and Rick Caruso.
That’s 20 times the $135,841 it spent in 2013, the last time there was a competitive Los Angeles mayoral election.
In its filing, Unite Here 11 reported heavy political spending in Orange County, including $18,000 in Glendale, $95,000 in Anaheim and $139,500 in Laguna Beach.
That’s where the union backed a measure requiring Laguna Beach’s 26 hotels to pay an $18 minimum wage, 16 percent more than the $15.50 mandated by the state of California.
“Measure S,” which also would have required the city to set Laguna Beach-specific “workplace standards and protections for hotel employees” and to establish fines and penalties for violations of them, failed, winning only 32 percent of the vote, with 68 percent voting against.
According to the Department of Labor filing, entry-level hotel workers now pay Unite Here Local 11 an average of $484.80 per year in dues, depending on which company is the employer. That represents an increase of 76 percent from 2013.
Hotel workers with higher levels of seniority pay Unite Here Local 11 $1,026 per year in dues, an increase of 68 percent over the past decade, the union reported.
Los Angeles Mayor’s Race
Unite Here Local 11 also was active in the Los Angeles’ mayoral race between Karen Bass and Rick Caruso.
In its Department of Labor filing, Unite Here Local 11 reported spending $1.27 million on Citizens for a Sustainable Los Angeles 2022, backing Bass for Los Angeles mayor.
“I was a part of a meeting with Karen Bass, and in talking to her I believe she will support working people from LAX and ensure we take part in our city’s economic recovery from the pandemic,” said Unite Here Local 11 Vice President Marlene Mendoza, in a press release announcing the union’s endorsement of her candidacy.
At least $12.5 million was spent in support of Bass, according to an analysis by the Los Angeles Times.