As the anticipation for the World Cup ramps up, set to kick off on June 11, hospitality and food service workers across various U.S. cities are hinting at possible strikes and labor disruptions. These potential actions coincide with the approach of the globe’s largest single-sport event.
In Los Angeles, California, a preliminary agreement was established on Tuesday afternoon for cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, concession staff, and food attendants at SoFi Stadium. Nevertheless, the union has asserted its right to strike if federal immigration enforcement threatens worker safety during the tournament. The U.S. team’s opening match, against Paraguay, is slated for June 12 at SoFi Stadium, which has been rebranded for the World Cup.
Around 2,000 employees at SoFi Stadium, represented by Unite Here Local 11, had overwhelmingly authorized a strike with a remarkable 96% majority prior to the agreement. These workers are seeking a new contract that promises wage increases and protections against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We’re just trying to make things fair,” shared Eva Miles, a bartender at SoFi Stadium since its opening in 2021. “Without us, they don’t have a stadium. Are they going to cook? Are they going to pour those drinks? Are they going to serve these people?”
Miles conveyed the challenges she and her coworkers face in making ends meet near the stadium on their current salaries, revealing that she endures a two-hour commute daily, with some colleagues facing even longer journeys.
“Let’s see them live on our wage, let’s see them raise a family,” she continued. Workers are pushing for hourly wages to exceed $30. “I’ve been there since the beginning. I love meeting new people. I want my guests to be happy, and I want them to enjoy it and have a great experience. I know they spend a lot of money, especially on this FIFA World Cup, so I don’t understand why we can’t get what we want and everybody be happy.”
Furthermore, the ACLU of Southern California and LAANE have filed a formal complaint with the California privacy protection agency and the state department of justice over FIFA’s accreditation policy, which mandates workers to disclose immigration details to secure employment during the World Cup.
Enrique Fernández, the general vice president for immigration, civil rights, and diversity at Unite Here, emphasized that many union members are immigrants assigned to hospitality roles in cities hosting World Cup matches.
The union represents immigrants from nearly 200 nations, with roots tracing back to the 1912 Bread and Roses strike of textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, organized by immigrant founders.
“They experience the effects of anti-immigrant policy and rhetoric every day, and they don’t need the added stress of tracking ICE agents at their workplaces,” Fernández remarked.
SoFi Stadium has declined to comment, referring inquiries to Legends Global, the concessionaire responsible for employing the workers.
“Legends Global has enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for over a decade and remains dedicated to reaching a fair agreement through good faith negotiations,” a spokesperson stated via email. “We look forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium).”
In Seattle, hotel staff represented by Unite Here Local 8 at the Embassy Suites Hilton, situated near Lumen Field, where six World Cup games will occur, have voted 94% in favor of strike authorization. Approximately 100 hotel employees are demanding higher wages, year-round health insurance, protections from ICE, and improved staffing levels.
“We need the wages to improve,” asserted Hayden Eyerly, a front desk worker at the Embassy Suites Hilton. He noted that the hotel had only proposed raises of about $0.80 per hour annually throughout the contract. “No one here thinks that is reasonable, especially with the rising costs of everything, particularly gas prices.”
Eyerly also highlighted that some employees often lose their health insurance during the tourism offseason due to reduced hours, arguing that staffing levels have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
He mentioned that many of his colleagues are immigrants who have been advised by their immigration attorneys to avoid discussing their situations with the media due to fears of repercussions regarding their immigration status.
“Everyone is very tired. Every department has been operating on a skeleton crew,” Eyerly added. “We’re aiming for real changes, a genuine positive impact in our lives. We all deserve to work one job; we all deserve to come home with the energy to be there for our families.”
A Hilton spokesperson indicated that the hotel has contingency plans in place should a strike occur.
“We remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair and reasonable agreement that benefits both our valued Team Members and our hotel,” they stated in an email.
In Philadelphia, workers at six hotels represented by Unite Here Local 274 are threatening strikes during World Cup matches in the city due to expired union contracts. A strike deadline has been set for June 12 if new agreements are not finalized by then.
Maciah Magloughlin, a server at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, expressed that employees are advocating for substantial wage increases, a workload cap of 15 rooms for housekeepers, protections from ICE for immigrant workers, and more affordable health coverage for dependents.
“The hotels have the resources to give us what we deserve,” Magloughlin claimed, referencing the anticipated $770 million economic impact of the World Cup for the Philadelphia area. “What we’re fighting for is that the people who support this industry also benefit from it, because people are struggling to send their kids to school or take time off or buy groceries, and that’s not fair, especially with such a significant summer ahead.”
The Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District released a statement regarding the strike threat amidst ongoing contract negotiations, stating: “We respect our team members’ rights to engage in legally protected activities and are committed to reaching a fair contract. While discussions are ongoing, we remain focused on ensuring our guests enjoy their stay.”
FIFA has chosen not to comment on the situation, claiming that the contractual dispute at SoFi Stadium does not involve them. They also refrained from addressing the other labor unrest threats or their ICE accreditation policy.
