A union representing approximately 2,000 hospitality workers at SoFi Stadium said that it could call a strike if U.S. immigration enforcement agencies are involved in World Cup operations in Los Angeles.
According to Newsweek, UNITE HERE Local 11 said members, including cooks, servers and bartenders at SoFi Stadium, remain without a labor contract as World Cup preparations continue, adding that the potential presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at or near matches has raised concerns among workers about safety and working conditions. This comes amid fears among immigrant communities and lawmakers about possible enforcement activity around venues.
In a letter to FIFA, the union wrote that "Under our contract language, workers have a right to refuse to work under conditions that would subject them to unusually dangerous conditions. When hotels are used to house ICE or Border Patrol personnel, workers may be exposed to situations involving heavy armed federal presence, protests, and law-enforcement responses that can escalate rapidly. These conditions create safety risks that are beyond the reasonable control of hotel staff or management and should not be imposed on hospitality workers as part of their regular duties."
The letter specifically demanded that no ICE agents are allowed at World Cup events.
"Lastly, as Los Angeles prepares to host the World Cup this June, federal authorities have signaled intentions to increase ICE presence around major events, as shown by the deployment of ICE at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. We want to be clear: If ICE or similar enforcement agents are present at or near your property, workers must be allowed to leave or refuse to report to work without reprisal," the letter stated. "We ask that you confirm that you agree with our understanding of our contract’s health and safety protections and will adhere to the requests outlined above. We worked together to protect guests and employees during COVID, the worst public health disaster of our generation. It is time to come together again to face this dangerous threat to the safety of your guests, our members, and our communities."
Todd Lyons, the acting director of ICE, told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing in February that the agency would be a key part of the overall security framework for the tournament and did not rule out the possibility of enforcement operations around matches.
