Unite Here Local 11 throws its weight behind mayoral challenger Nithya Raman

In a notable break from the broader labor bloc, Unite Here Local 11 endorsed mayoral candidate Nithya Raman, praising her commitment to the city’s housing shortage, the $30 hourly minimum wage for hotel and airport workers, and her willingness to challenge Airbnb’s short-term rental agenda. Union leader Kurt Petersen pointed to Raman’s past activism, including an arrest during a 2023 contract protest, as evidence of her alignment with workers’ interests.

The endorsement follows the union’s successful push for the wage increase last year, though its implementation was later delayed. Raman’s labor backing remains modest, with five endorsements compared with incumbent Karen Bass’s more than 30, which include the Teamsters, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, the L.A. County Federation of Labor and the Police Protective League. Additionally, the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters pledged a $3 million contribution to an independent group supporting Raman’s campaign.