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UNION VICTORIES

Mother Jones: The World Cup’s First Score: Union 1, O

In a 99-1 vote Wednesday night, food and beverage workers staffing Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium for the FIFA Men’s World Cup ratified an agreement that includes better wages and protections around immigration enforcement—a high-profile labor victory after months of dispute over poor pay and work without a contract amid huge employer revenues.

VICTORY AT SOFI STADIUM

Just days before the opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, approximately food and beverage workers at SoFi Stadium have ratified a historic new contract with Legends Hospitality by an overwhelming 99% vote. The contract will go into effect immediately.

SOFI STADIUM WORKERS RATIFY HISTORIC CONTRACT!

“This contract proves what workers can accomplish when we stand together,” said Susana Lahargue, a Stand Lead at SoFi Stadium. “We fought for fair wages, stronger job protections, and the right to protect ourselves and our families. As the world comes to Los Angeles for the World Cup, we are proud to welcome fans knowing that workers have secured a contract that respects our work and our dignity.”

BREAKING NEWS: DAYS BEFORE WORLD CUP, SOFI STADIUM WORKERS WIN HISTORIC CONTRACT — AND RESERVE THE RIGHT TO STRIKE IF ICE THREATENS SAFETY

UNITE HERE Local 11 reaches tentative agreement with Legends Hospitality covering 2,000 food and beverage workers at SoFi Stadium. Workers retain the unprecedented right to strike if ICE or other federal immigration agencies threaten their safety during the World Cup. Workers will vote to ratify on Wednesday. Full details to be released following ratification.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just days away, UNITE HERE Local 11 announced tonight a tentative agreement with Legends Hospitality covering approximately 2,000 food and beverage workers at SoFi Stadium. The tentative agreement secures massive wage increases, landmark job protections, and groundbreaking privacy rights. Notably, it includes an explicit right to strike if ICE or Border Patrol activity at the worksite threatens worker safety—a provision legal experts say is unprecedented in modern American labor history.

The contract will expire on April 30, 2028, aligning with over 100 other stadium, hotel, and airport concessions contracts that expire before the Olympics.

Key Improvements:

  • Historic wage increases: The largest increases for stadium workers in history, with significant premiums for World Cup and Super Bowl events.
  • Workforce Housing Fund: Legends will make a multimillion dollar contribution to fund to develop housing for hospitality workers.
  • Landmark Job Protections: A 75% reduction in subcontracting over the life of the agreement, enforced by an industry-first penalty mechanism.
  • Restrictions on AI and Automation: No new self-checkout, kiosks, or cashier-less technology can be deployed, safeguarding jobs.
  • Groundbreaking Privacy Rights: Workers cannot be forced to surrender Social Security numbers, immigration status, or country of origin for accreditation of mega events like the World Cup. FIFA’s accreditation demands are prohibited by the contract.
  • Unprecedented Right to Strike: Workers have the contractual right to walk off the job if the Union determines in good faith that federal immigration agency actions threaten worker safety during a World Cup match.

“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,” said Kurt Petersen, Co-President, UNITE HERE Local 11.

Los Angelesd magazine: SoFi Stadium Workers Narrowly Avert Potential Strike Ahead of the World Cup

In an era where the Trump administration has launched the largest-ever effort to denaturalize U.S. citizens, giving out such sensitive information feels incredibly risky at a time like this, even though FIFA has claimed they needed the information as part of its background-check procedure.

“Workers have the contractual right to walk off the job if the union determines in good faith that federal immigration enforcement threatens worker safety during a World Cup match,” Local 11 posted on its social media accounts, following the back and forth between the two parties.

 

ESPN: SoFi Stadium workers’ union reaches deal to avoid strike during World Cup

“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,” (Local 11 co-president Kurt) Petersen told reporters.

LA TIMES: SoFi Stadium workers union announces labor deal, averting strike during World Cup

“We got major economic gains and significant protections around subcontracting automation,” Kurt Petersen, the union’s co-president, said. “I don’t know the soccer analogy, but it’s a grand slam of a contract.”

European Trade Unions Pledge Support for Flying Food Group Workers at LAX and SFO

On May 21, 2026, the European Transport Workers’ Federation’s Civil Aviation Section passed a resolution committing to mobilize in support of over 1,000 Flying Food Group workers at LAX and SFO, who have been struggling to improve their working conditions. The European trade unions involved represent workers at a majority of the airlines that source from FFG in Los Angeles and San Francisco, including Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Polish Airlines, KLM, ITA, Scandinavian SAS, TAP Air Portugal, and Cargolux.

The resolution was strongly backed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which is coordinating solidarity between UNITE HERE and global aviation unions including those in Europe. European aviation unions affiliated to the ETF and ITF will directly engage with airlines contracting with FFG at LAX and SFO, invoking their obligations under national and EU law.

Grievance Victory at the Anaheim Convention Center

Maria Sanchez, a long time shop steward at the Anaheim Convention Center, was unjustly terminated last year but through mediation she got her job back with no loss of seniority and a full year’s back pay and benefits. Way to go Maria!

WORKERS AT THE AC HOTEL IN PASADENA: WELCOME TO THE UNION!

The Housekeeping Department at the AC Hotel in Pasadena voted to join the union. After a four-month campaign, the 23 members of the housekeeping department voted 90% for the union Negotiations for their first union contract will begin in the next couple weeks. Congratulations! And… sí se puede, compañeros!

98% of Private Suite workers voted YES to ratify their first union contract

Private Suite workers at LAX ratified a historic new contract that will give them $15 i raises over three years. By the end of the contract salaries for all 150 workers will be around $40-$50 an hour. Workers also won health care, pension, and tipped workers will be able to keep their tips that sometimes can be up to $1,500 in one day! Wow!

Grievance Victories

The Ambassadors (Bellmen) of the W Westwood Los Angeles won a grievance settlement of $859.99. The employer failed to comply with the Settlement from year 2020.

The restaurant servers of Sofitel won a grievance settlement of $29,171.39 of back pay from 2023 to now. The employer failed to apply the appropriate wages increase over the years of our contract 2023 to 2026.