LA stadium workers threaten strike ahead of FIFA World Cup

Workers at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a potential strike just days before the FIFA World Cup kicks off. Unite Here Local 11, representing approximately 2,000 food and beverage workers at the venue, is demanding improved pay and guarantees that federal immigration agents will be barred from entering the stadium.

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If we’re forced to strike, those $100,000 FIFA suites will have nothing but bottled water and Doritos.

The strike authorization passed with a striking 96 percent approval, giving union members the power to walk off the job at any time. Contract negotiations between the union, stadium food service operator Legends Global, and FIFA have reportedly seen little significant progress on key economic and workplace safety issues. New talks are scheduled for Monday, just before the World Cup's first match on U.S. soil on June 12.

Union co-president Kurt Petersen warned that a strike could leave the stadium's luxury suites with only "bottled water and Doritos." The union also demands that workers have the right to leave if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel are present at SoFi during matches, citing fears for their safety. ICE has faced criticism from human rights groups for its operations in U.S. cities.

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The FIFA World Cup will generate enormous profits, but we are still fighting for basic respect and security.

Stadium workers have also voiced concerns about sharing personal information with FIFA for World Cup accreditation, fearing this data could be passed to ICE. "The FIFA World Cup will generate enormous profits, but we are still fighting for basic respect and security," said stadium bartender Cesar Zamora. "We deserve better, and if that means going on strike, I’m ready."

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We deserve better, and if that means going on strike, I’m ready.