Thousands of hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium have voted to authorize a strike ahead of one of the venue’s first FIFA World Cup matches, raising the possibility of labor disruptions during the tournament.
The vote gives nearly 2,000 employees, including bartenders, servers, cooks and dishwashers, the authority to walk off the job if ongoing contract talks fail to produce an agreement.
While no strike has been announced yet, union leaders say the option remains on the table.
The stadium near Los Angeles is scheduled to host the United States men`s national team`s opening World Cup match against Paraguay on June 12.
Union officials said workers could take strike action during the event if negotiations break down.
Employees are seeking higher wages, stronger job protections and safeguards related to immigration concerns.
Some workers have expressed fears about job security and the broader impact of increased immigration enforcement policies.
UNITE HERE Local 11, which represents the workers, said many employees are struggling with the rising cost of living despite working at one of the country`s largest sports and entertainment venues.
Hospitality services at SoFi Stadium are managed by Legends Global.
The company said it remains engaged in discussions with union representatives and is working toward a deal that supports both employees and stadium operations.
Legends also said it expects fans attending World Cup matches to receive the level of service and experience expected at the venue.
Union leaders, however, argue that negotiations have progressed slowly.
They claim proposed wage increases have been limited and say some workers are facing pay freezes despite expectations of strong revenues from World Cup events.
Workers are also pushing for protections against increased subcontracting and policies they believe could affect employees during major international events.
The labor dispute comes as community organizations in several World Cup host cities, including Atlanta and Miami, continue to raise concerns about immigration-related issues surrounding tournament activities.
The FIFA World Cup is expected to attract millions of fans across the United States, Canada and Mexico during the month-long competition.
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