FOOD SERVICE

The Strike authorization comes as survey finds large numbers of park’s food service workers have experienced hunger and homelessness, with one in four having relied on food assistance programs

Los Angeles, CA –  Workers at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park voted over 98% to authorize a strike on Friday. Workers have been in negotiations for months with NBCUniversal Comcast, but have failed to reach an agreement.

“If I didn’t have my rideshare job on the side, I wouldn’t have enough to pay my rent next week.” said Stephanie, a Cook in the Upper Lot. “Every week I’m having to make choices like ‘do I pay for the internet, or do I pay for my phone? Do I buy food, or do I pay rent?’ It’s exhausting playing mental gymnastics with my paycheck. I’m tired of it, that’s why I voted to go on strike”.

Workers’ collective bargaining agreement with NBCUniversal expired on December 31st. The union reports that the company has not made significant movement on much-needed wage increases, affordable and accessible health insurance, and fair staffing.

“I live in Fresno and take the train to get to the park,” said Diego, a Food Stand Attendant at the Food Carts, “the commute back so long I usually have to sleep at the park in one of the employee lounges. If I could afford to live closer I would because I love this job, but with what I make and the few hours I get, I just can’t afford it”

“I have worked here for 13 years, and it used to be a fun job. But now I just clock in and out and leave. For Universal to try and eliminate my seniority, feels like they are trying to erase the years of work I have dedicated to the park.” said Satoshi a Food Stand Attendant at Toadstool

The strike authorization comes after a survey conducted by UNITE HERE Local 11 found a striking number of Universal Studios food service workers are struggling to afford basic needs like food and housing. The survey — in which 828 workers, nearly half of the park’s food service workforce, participated — found:

• 52.9% reported that over the past year there were times they were hungry but didn’t eat because there wasn’t enough money for food.
• 11.3% — roughly 1 in 9 — reported having been unhoused at some point while working at Universal Studios.
• 60.1% of workers surveyed reported having had to choose between food, medications, and housing in the past year.
• 25.7% reported receiving benefits from a food stamps program, SNAP, WIC, food banks, or other food donation services in the past year.

Meanwhile, revenue and executive pay has soared. Comcast reported that its theme parks division took in $9.8 billion in revenue in 2025, up 14.2% from the year before. In that same year, executive pay rose sharply. Comcast’s 2026 proxy statement discloses that co-CEO Mike Cavanagh’s compensation jumped 154% in 2025, to $71.8 million. Chairman and co-CEO Brian Roberts received $35.2 million — 381 times what the median Comcast employee made, by the company’s own calculation.

Workers could walk out any day following the authorization.