A week before USMNT World Cup opener, union for SoFi Stadium workers vote to authorize strike

The union that represents more than 2,000 workers at SoFi Stadium has voted 96 per cent in favor of authorizing a strike, just one week before the U.S. men’s national team open their World Cup campaign at the venue near Los Angeles.

UNITE HERE Local 11 represent workers at the venue who largely work in food and beverage concessions, including cooks, dishwashers, servers and bartenders. Negotiations with the stadium operators, Legends Global, were broken off last week after multiple bargaining sessions failed to reach an agreement. The existing deal between the union and Legends has already ceased.

In an interview with The Athletic last week, the union’s co-President Kurt Petersen said Legends “were not taking the concerns and demands seriously enough.”

The group’s threat to call a strike vote was first extensively reported by The Athletic in early April. The potential strike action threatens to impact eight World Cup matches at the venue, which is the home of the NFL’s two Los Angeles teams, the Chargers and the Rams. It is owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, who also own Premier League champions Arsenal. SoFi will host the opening World Cup match in the United States, when the USMNT plays Paraguay on June 12.

In a press release issued Friday night, the union said: “SoFi Stadium cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, concessions workers, and food attendants have voted 96 per cent in favor of authorizing a strike, meaning workers could walk off the job at any moment if their demands are not met. Negotiations are scheduled to continue Monday ahead of the USA vs Paraguay match on June 12th.”

Should an agreement not be reached, a committee of workers will decide when a strike will take place. It can be at any time they choose.

The union has previously warned that FIFA has a significant problem in the event of a strike, because any replacement workers may not be accredited in advance, with FIFA’s process requiring background checks long before the tournament.Among its key concerns, the union has called on FIFA to make a public commitment that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will not be permitted at World Cup venues during the tournament, which has not been forthcoming. The union says this request is necessary to avoid safety risks to its workers. In the release tonight, the union said: “Workers must have the right to walk off the job if federal immigration enforcement enters the stadium and creates a reasonable fear for their safety — no worker should have to choose between their job and their freedom.”

In a series of demands made to FIFA and the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (the stadium owners) in April, the union also wants restrictions on the use of subcontractors operating at SoFi, while also requesting that FIFA not permit any artificial intelligence or automation at the arena, which could eliminate union jobs.

Petersen says all those concerns remain, while also claiming that Legends has even been unable to show his union the contract between itself and FIFA’s hospitality provider, On Location.

In the Friday night release, the union said they want “pay that reflects the true cost of living in Los Angeles, including premium pay for World Cup and other mega-events, and payment to a housing fund to build housing for hospitality workers”.

Speaking to The Athletic last week, the union’s co-president, Kurt Peterson, said Legends has failed to address “bread-and-butter” concerns about pay.

“The company (Legends) is suggesting an extra 25 cents here or there, rather than movement in dollars, which feels like a throwback to 2005 rather than being in 2026,” Petersen added. “This is the most profitable stadium in Los Angeles, so these folk need to get serious in sharing how this revenue is distributed to the workers who help to make the experience possible for visitors.”

Cesar Zamora, a bartender for five years at SoFi Stadium, said: “I’m a lifelong soccer fan, and it’s heartbreaking to see that just days before one of the biggest sporting events in the world, our employer is refusing to provide the wages, protections, and contract we need to support our families. The FIFA World Cup will generate enormous profits, but we are still fighting for basic respect and security. We deserve better, and if that means going on strike, I’m ready.”

Also in the release, Yolanda Fierro, a suites runner at SoFi Stadium, said: “Fans from around the world will come expecting an unforgettable event, and we take pride in making that happen. But no worker should have to fear being separated from their family or worry about dangerous ICE activity while simply doing their job. We deserve to feel safe, respected, and protected at work. If our voices continue to be ignored, I’m ready to strike.”

The Athletic reported in May that the union filed a complaint with the attorney general of California. This alleges that data sharing in FIFA’s accreditation process for workers at SoFi Stadium represents a “serious intrusion” into the right to privacy and violates worker rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act.

The complaint, seen by The Athletic, was accompanied by a letter addressed to California attorney general Rob Bonta. It was co-signed by UNITE HERE, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU) and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy.

The union filed a separate complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in April. This accused stadium operator Legends Hospitality, stadium owner KSE, World Cup organizer FIFA and On Location, FIFA’s hospitality provider, of a violation of the National Labor Relations Act by “refusing to commit to restricting facility access by officers from ICE in anticipation of FIFA World Cup events.”

A spokesperson for the stadium operator said: “Legends Global has presented progressive wage proposals to Unite Here Local 11 throughout our negotiations and remains confident an agreement is within reach. While we expect a contract will be finalized in time, a contingency staffing plan is in place to ensure seamless operations and no disruption to fans. We remain committed to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience at the FIFA World Cup matches at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium).”