Stadium workers in Los Angeles have reached a tentative contract to avert a strike ahead of the United States men's national team opening World Cup match Friday.
The UNITED HERE Local 11 union representing workers at Los Angele' SoFi stadium said on Friday its members, including cashiers, concession workers, bartenders, dishwashers, cooks and food attendants, voted 96% in favor of a strike if an agreement on a contract couldn't be reached.
The union also said back in April that its 2,000 members would strike should U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection be present at or near matches.
According to ESPN, UNITE HERE Local 11 union co-president Kurt Petersen said the agreement, which was arrived at on Tuesday, was 'the strongest at any NFL stadium," citing raises that will give most workers $40 per hour or more with tip workers to see their pay increase by at least 30%.
"These workers are heroes. They stood up to FIFA. They stood up to ICE. They won a historic contract, and they are ready for whatever comes during the World Cup. If federal immigration agencies threaten workers' safety, our members have the right to walk off the job. That is now in their contract," Petersen told reporters.
The agreement will ensure raise increases, secure landmark job protections and privacy rights, including an explicit right to strike if ICE or Border Patrol activity at the worksite threatens worker safety.
The contract will expire on April 30, 2028, aligning with over 100 other stadium, hotel, and airport concessions contracts that expire before the Olympics.
The strife isn't limited to Los Angeles, as the unions representing works in other host cities across the country have also threatened to strike.
In early June, nearly 4,000 private sector hotel and food service workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 274 threatened work stoppages across major hospitality and food service venues. Unions representing workers in Houston, Seattle, Philadelphia and Miami have also threatened or have already voted on a possible strike ahead of the World Cup.
