Approximately 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium are set to begin voting on Thursday regarding potential strike authorization, just one week before the venue hosts its first FIFA World Cup match.
The workers, represented by Unite Here Local 11, include cooks, dishwashers, concession workers, bartenders, and servers. They have been operating without a contract for a year, and union representatives state that negotiations with Legends Global, the stadium's food-service operator, have reached an impasse. Key demands from the union include salary increases, protections against subcontracting and job displacement due to automation, and concerns over FIFA's collection of sensitive personal data such as nationality and home addresses.
Kurt Petersen, co-president of the union, indicated that if a strike is approved, the estimated 70,000 fans attending the World Cup opener on June 12 between the U.S. and Paraguay could be met with picketing workers. A further bargaining session was scheduled for Wednesday, but Petersen expressed limited optimism for a resolution. The union seeks substantial wage increases, aiming for over $30 per hour, while Legends Global's latest proposal reportedly includes wage freezes for some positions and a modest 25-cent hourly increase for cooks and dishwashers. The union is pursuing a 22-month contract set to expire before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
While the labor dispute is directly between Legends Global and Unite Here Local 11, FIFA's role as the World Cup organizer significantly influences the situation. For the first time, FIFA will assume control over all 16 stadiums during the tournament, overseeing venue operations and concessions. Although Legends Global remains responsible for worker compensation, FIFA will manage job functions, attire, and the accreditation required for stadium access. A major point of contention is FIFA's demand for sensitive personal information for background checks, which the union is resisting due to privacy concerns and has filed a formal complaint with the California Department of Justice.
FIFA has stated that the name checks are a collaborative effort with U.S., Canadian, and Mexican governments to enhance safety and security by mitigating potential insider threats. They assert that all collected data will be processed in accordance with applicable privacy laws and deleted once no longer necessary for credentialing purposes. A company spokesperson for Legends Global affirmed their commitment to reaching a fair agreement through good-faith negotiations and delivering a positive fan experience.
