Employees at Los Angeles So-Fi Stadium have voted strongly in favor of authorizing a strike ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
The vote has raised concerns about possible disruption at one of the tournament’s key venues. Around 96 percent of workers supported the decision through Unite Here Local 11 (a union), which represents about 2,000 food and beverage staff at the stadium. The workers will now have the right to go on strike at any time while talks continue with stadium food service company Legends Global and FIFA.
The union says discussions have made little progress on major issues, especially wages and workplace safety. Workers are also demanding a guarantee that US immigration authorities will not be allowed inside the stadium during World Cup matches. Further negotiations are expected on Monday, just days before the tournament begins on June 12.
So-Fi Stadium, which opened in 2020 after a cost of more than $5 billion, will host eight World Cup matches and is one of the main venues for the event. The union includes cooks, bartenders, dishwashers, and other hospitality workers. Union leaders say a strike could seriously affect services for fans and VIP guests during the tournament.
Another concern raised by staff is the sharing of personal data with FIFA during the accreditation process. Some workers fear their information could be accessed by US immigration authorities, a concern also raised by rights groups.
Workers say they expect strong profits from the World Cup but still want fair pay and better security. A stadium bartender said staff are ready to strike if their demands are not met.
