As the world’s largest sporting event prepares to commence on June 11, hospitality and food service employees across various U.S. cities are signaling potential labor actions and strikes. These workers are advocating for better working conditions and fair wages.
In Los Angeles, California, cashiers, dishwashers, cooks, bartenders, and food attendants at SoFi Stadium reached a preliminary agreement on Tuesday. However, the union emphasized its right to strike if federal immigration enforcement poses a threat to worker safety during the World Cup. The United States’ opening match against Paraguay is scheduled for June 12 at SoFi Stadium, which has been renamed Los Angeles Stadium for this tournament.
Around 2,000 workers at SoFi Stadium, represented by Unite Here Local 11, had previously voted overwhelmingly—96% in favor—of authorizing a strike before the agreement was settled. These workers are calling 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 who has worked 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 highlighted the financial struggles workers face, stating that their current wages make it difficult to live near the stadium. She endures a two-hour commute daily, with some colleagues facing even longer travel times.
“Let’s see them live on our wage, let’s see them raise a family,” Miles continued, advocating for hourly pay to exceed $30. “I’ve been there since the beginning. I love meeting new people. I want my guests to be happy and have a great experience. I know they spend 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 ACLU of Southern California and LAANE have lodged a formal complaint with the California privacy protection agency and the Department of Justice regarding FIFA’s accreditation policy, which requires workers to disclose immigration information to work during the World Cup.
Enrique Fernández, general vice-president for immigration, civil rights, and diversity at Unite Here, pointed out that many union members are immigrants employed at hospitality venues throughout World Cup host cities. This union has roots in 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 explained.
SoFi Stadium has refrained from commenting, directing inquiries to Legends Global, the company that handles concessions at the venue. A spokesperson for Legends Global stated, “We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for over a decade and are committed to reaching 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, located near Lumen Field where six World Cup matches will occur, voted 94% in favor of a strike authorization. Approximately 100 employees at the hotel are advocating for wage increases, year-round health insurance, ICE protections, and improved staffing levels.
“We need the wages to improve,” declared Hayden Eyerly, a front desk employee at the Embassy Suites Hilton. He noted the hotel’s raises have averaged only about $0.80 per hour annually, which he argues is unreasonable given the rising costs of living, particularly gas prices.
Eyerly further mentioned that many workers lose their health insurance during the tourism offseason due to reduced hours, and he believes staffing levels have yet to recover to pre-pandemic numbers.
“Everyone is very tired. Every department has been working on a skeleton crew,” he stated. “We’re trying to make real changes, a real positive impact in our lives. We all deserve to work one job and come home with enough energy to be there for our families.”
A Hilton representative indicated that contingency plans are in place should a strike occur, assuring, “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.”
In Philadelphia, workers at six hotels represented by Unite Here Local 274 are also threatening strikes as their union contracts have expired without new agreements. The hotels have set a strike deadline of June 12 if new contracts aren’t finalized by then.
Maciah Magloughlin, a server at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District, shared that workers are demanding significant wage increases, a 15-room cap for housekeepers, protections from ICE for immigrant employees, and more affordable health coverage for dependents.
“The hotels have the money to give us what we deserve,” Magloughlin asserted, referencing the projected $770 million economic impact of the World Cup in 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 or buy groceries, and that’s not fair, especially with such a big summer ahead.”
The Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District issued a statement regarding the strike threat while ongoing negotiations for a new union contract continue: “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 declined to comment on the labor disputes at SoFi Stadium and did not address other potential strike actions or its ICE accreditation policy.
