(US, 7th) With just a few days until the World Cup kicks off, the workers’ union at Los Angeles stadium has passed a strike authorization, allowing venue employees to strike during the tournament.
According to AFP, “Unite Here Local 11,” the union representing about 2,000 catering workers at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, overwhelmingly approved a strike authorization on Saturday (June 6), with 96% voting in favor.
This means union members are allowed to stop work at any time, even as the World Cup is set to open next Thursday (11th). SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host eight matches, with the first to be held on Friday (12th).
The stadium’s chefs, dishwashers, bartenders, and other employees are all represented by this union. The union is demanding higher wages and assurances that federal immigration officers will not be permitted inside the venue.
The union has stated that if US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers come to SoFi Stadium during the World Cup and cause a “reasonable fear for venue security,” workers should be allowed to strike.
The union declaration stated: “Contract negotiations with the venue’s food service operator ‘Legends Global’ and FIFA have made no substantial progress on key economic and workplace safety issues.”
A new round of talks is scheduled for Monday (8th). Union co-president Petersen said: “If we are forced to strike, then in those $100,000 (about 405,700 ringgit) FIFA suites, there will only be bottled water and Doritos.”
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has conducted raids in cities around the country, including Los Angeles, and has been sharply criticized by human rights groups for violent enforcement actions, sparking protests by Americans.
SoFi Stadium, completed in 2020 at a cost of over $5 billion, is the most expensive stadium in the world.
Stadium employees are required to provide personal information to FIFA in order to obtain a World Cup work permit. However, workers are concerned this data could be shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This means union members are allowed to stop work at any time, even as the World Cup is set to open next Thursday (11th). SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host eight matches, with the first to be held on Friday (12th).
The stadium’s chefs, dishwashers, bartenders, and other employees are all represented by this union. The union is demanding higher wages and assurances that federal immigration officers will not be permitted inside the venue.
The union has stated that if US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers come to SoFi Stadium during the World Cup and cause a “reasonable fear for venue security,” workers should be allowed to strike.
The union declaration stated: “Contract negotiations with the venue’s food service operator ‘Legends Global’ and FIFA have made no substantial progress on key economic and workplace safety issues.”
A new round of talks is scheduled for Monday (8th). Union co-president Petersen said: “If we are forced to strike, then in those $100,000 (about 405,700 ringgit) FIFA suites, there will only be bottled water and Doritos.”
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has conducted raids in cities around the country, including Los Angeles, and has been sharply criticized by human rights groups for violent enforcement actions, sparking protests by Americans.
SoFi Stadium, completed in 2020 at a cost of over $5 billion, is the most expensive stadium in the world.
Stadium employees are required to provide personal information to FIFA in order to obtain a World Cup work permit. However, workers are concerned this data could be shared with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.