As the world gears up for the largest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, hospitality and food service personnel in various US cities are signaling potential labor disputes and strikes. With the tournament set to commence on June 11, tensions are rising among workers eager for fair treatment.
In Los Angeles, California, employees including cashiers, dishwashers, and bartenders at SoFi Stadium reached a tentative agreement on Tuesday. However, the union emphasized its right to strike if federal immigration enforcement jeopardizes worker safety during the World Cup. The opening match for the US against Paraguay is slated for June 12 at SoFi Stadium, which has been rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the event.
Approximately 2,000 employees at SoFi Stadium, represented by Unite Here Local 11, previously voted overwhelmingly—96%—in favor of a strike authorization ahead of the tentative agreement. These workers are advocating for a new union contract that includes wage increases and safeguards against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We’re just trying to make things fair,” stated Eva Miles, a bartender at SoFi Stadium since its inception 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 expressed that her current wages make it impossible for her to live near the stadium, leading her to endure a two-hour daily commute, with some colleagues facing even longer travels.
“Let’s see them live on our wage, let’s see them raise a family,” she continued. Workers are demanding compensation exceeding $30 per hour. “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, and I know they’re spending a lot of money on this FIFA World Cup, so I don’t understand why we can’t get what we want and everybody be happy.”
The unions ACLU of Southern California and LAANE have lodged a formal complaint with the state’s privacy protection agency and the California Department of Justice, challenging FIFA’s requirement for workers to disclose immigration details to secure employment during the summer event.
Enrique Fernández, the general vice president for immigration, civil rights, and diversity at Unite Here, underscored that many union members are immigrants poised to serve in hospitality roles throughout the World Cup host cities.
Members hail from nearly 200 countries, with the union’s roots tracing back to the 1912 Bread and Roses strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, led 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 highlighted.
SoFi Stadium declined to comment, redirecting inquiries to Legends Global, the concession provider employing the workers. A spokesperson for Legends Global noted, “We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for over a decade and are dedicated to achieving a fair agreement through good faith negotiations. We look forward to providing an exceptional 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 near Lumen Field, which will host six World Cup games, voted 94% in favor of strike authorization. Around 100 hotel workers are demanding wage hikes, year-round health insurance, protections from ICE, and improved staffing levels.
“We need the wages to improve,” remarked Hayden Eyerly, a front desk employee at the Embassy Suites Hilton. He pointed out that the hotel had only proposed annual raises of about $0.80 over the contract duration. “No one here thinks that is reasonable, especially with the rising cost of living and gas prices.”
Eyerly also mentioned that many staff members regularly lose health insurance during the off-season due to reduced hours, arguing that staffing at the hotel has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
He added that many of his colleagues are immigrants, and were advised by their immigration attorney to avoid media interactions to protect their immigration status.
“Everyone is very tired. Every department has been working on a skeleton crew,” Eyerly explained. “We’re trying to make real changes, a real positive impact in our lives. We all deserve to work one job, we all deserve to come home and have the energy to be there for our families.”
A Hilton representative confirmed that the hotel has contingency plans in place in the event of a strike. “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 via email.
In Philadelphia, workers at six hotels represented by Unite Here Local 274 are threatening strikes during World Cup matches in the city, as their union contracts have expired without renewal. A strike deadline of June 12 has been established by the hotels if new agreements are not reached by that date.
Maciah Magloughlin, a server at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, expressed that workers are advocating for significant wage increases, a limit of 15 rooms for housekeepers, ICE protections for immigrant workers, and more affordable health insurance for dependents.
“The hotels have the money to give us what we deserve,” asserted Magloughlin, referencing the projected $770 million economic boost from the World Cup for the Philadelphia area. “What we’re fighting for is that the people who hold this industry up on their backs also get a piece of that, because people are struggling to send their kids to school, take time off, or buy groceries. That’s not fair, especially with such a major summer ahead.”
The Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District commented on the strike threat, stating that negotiations for a new union contract are ongoing: “We respect our team members’ rights to engage in legally protected activities and look forward to reaching a fair contract. While discussions are ongoing, we remain committed to ensuring our guests enjoy their stay.”
FIFA chose not to comment, indicating that the contract dispute at SoFi Stadium does not involve the organization, and it refrained from addressing the other labor action threats or its ICE accreditation policy.
