Inglewood, California, is facing potential disruption as stadium workers at SoFi Stadium have voted to authorize a strike. This decision comes just days before the stadium is set to host the U.S. men’s soccer team’s opening World Cup match against Paraguay. The vote does not ensure a strike will occur, but it empowers the 2,000 bartenders, servers, cooks, and dishwashers to walk off the job if contract negotiations with the stadium’s food service provider, Legends Global, remain stalled.

Concerns Over Pay and Security

Union member Yolanda Fierro highlighted concerns about pay and job security, particularly amid increased immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s administration. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna has assured that federal authorities will be present at the matches for security purposes but will not engage in civil immigration enforcement.

Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, emphasized the workers’ plight, questioning the benefit of hosting the World Cup when workers struggle with low wages and fear potential immigration raids. Petersen noted that contract talks have been progressing slowly, with minimal wage increases proposed for cooks and dishwashers and wage freezes for some suite attendants and bartenders, despite the anticipated revenue from the World Cup.

Community and Union Support

Community groups in other World Cup host cities, such as Atlanta and Miami, have also called for a halt on U.S. immigration enforcement during the matches, fearing that arrests near stadiums and watch parties could dampen the festivities. The World Cup is expected to draw millions of fans to games played in June and July across 11 U.S. cities, as well as in Canada and Mexico.

Legends Global, which manages hospitality at SoFi Stadium, expressed its commitment to reaching an agreement through negotiations and ensuring an outstanding experience for fans during the World Cup matches.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.