Stadium workers near Los Angeles on Saturday voted to conduct a strike as the venue prepares to host the US men's soccer team's opening FIFA World Cup match. The strike, if successful, would give them an option to walk off the job after contract talks have stalled with the stadium's food service provider.
The voting comes before after the SoFi Stadium in California will host the US team's opening World Cup match against Paraguay.
However, it does not guarantee that the 2,000 bartenders, servers, cooks and dishwashers at the stadium in Inglewood, California, will walk off the job.
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Tickets for the June 12 game start at $2,000.
Union member Yolanda Fierro told AP that unless a deal is reached, workers could go on strike for the June 12 match.
Workers are concerned about pay and security on the job amid ramped-up immigration enforcement under US President Donald Trump's administration, Fierro added.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said this week the US Department of Homeland Security has told him federal authorities would be at the matches to assist with security but not civil immigration enforcement.
"What good is the World Cup for Los Angeles when workers don't earn enough to pay the rent and must choose between showing up and being kidnapped by ICE?" said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11.
"If we're forced to strike, those $100,000 FIFA suites will have nothing but bottled water and Doritos," Petersen remarked.
Legends Global, which handles hospitality at SoFi, affirmed that the company has a longstanding relationship with the union and is committed to reaching an agreement through contract negotiations.
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"We look forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium," the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
FIFA contracts moving at "glacial pace"
He said Legends has agreed to minimal wage increases for cooks and dishwashers and freezes for some suite attendants and bartenders even as the FIFA World Cup is expected to reel in ample revenue for the company.
The workers' union is also asking Legends for protections from subcontracting and potential federal immigration raids.
Meanwhile, community groups in other World Cup host cities such as Atlanta and Miami also have called for a halt on US immigration enforcement during the matches, fearing arrests near stadiums and watch parties could damp the festivities and ruin fan experience.
The World Cup is expected to draw millions of fans to soccer games played in June and July in 11 American host cities as well as in Canada and Mexico.
(With inputs from AP)
