Union Approves Strike Ahead of 2026 World Cup at SoFi Stadium
A union representing workers at SoFi Stadium has voted overwhelmingly, with 96% in favor, to authorize a strike as preparations ramp up for the upcoming 2026 World Cup. This action could potentially disrupt operations at the venue.
Unite Here Local 11, which represents around 2,000 staff members including cooks, dishwashers, concession staff, bartenders, and servers, held the vote on Thursday and Friday.
The decision to consider a strike arose after talks between the stadium’s food and beverage service operators and FIFA reached an impasse.
According to the union’s statement, “96% of SoFi Stadium’s cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, concession workers, and food workers have voted to authorize a strike. This means workers may walk off the job at any time if their demands are not met.”
Further negotiations are anticipated to take place on Monday, ahead of the June 12 match between the United States and Paraguay.
Unite Here also highlights that the union advocates for more than 32,000 hospitality workers throughout Southern California.
They emphasize that SoFi Stadium stands to generate considerable income during the World Cup, with some individual suite packages reaching over $100,000. They argue that the front-line workers responsible for this hospitality deserve a fair share of the profits.
The Union’s Key Demands:
- ICE Safety Protocols: Workers should have the right to leave the venue if federal immigration enforcement activities pose safety concerns.
- Living Wage Standard: Pay must align with the cost of living in Los Angeles, with premium rates for major events like the World Cup and contributions to a housing fund for workers.
- Limitations on Automation and Outsourcing: Protections against job loss from subcontracting, AI, and automation.
Members of the union have expressed concern about the potential for immigration authorities to detain them based on their appearance.
Yolanda Fierro, a stadium sweet runner, shared, “It’s kind of scary when you feel like you’re in a bubble… you don’t know if someone is going to get snatched or grabbed or detained because of the way you look. We just want to go to work, have fun, and take care of our customers.”
The latest proposal from Legend Global to the union included a pay freeze for some suite attendants and bartenders, along with a mere 25-cent-per-hour increase for cooks and dishwashers.
The World Cup kicks off on June 12, featuring a match between the U.S. national team and Paraguay, which has generated a lot of excitement. SoFi Stadium will host eight games before the tournament moves to other locations.
Federal immigration officials have announced that they will be present “every day” during the tournament, targeting crimes linked to major international events, such as selling counterfeit tickets, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated that the focus would be on the most serious offenders rather than mass arrests.
