A tentative agreement between union negotiators and Legends Global, the food and beverage operator at SoFi Stadium, has averted a strike that threatened to disrupt the venue’s World Cup schedule. Approximately 2,000 hospitality workers — including cooks, dishwashers, concession workers, bartenders, and servers represented by UNITE HERE Local 11 — had authorized a strike with a 96% vote before the deal was reached on June 9.
The dispute centered on wages, protections against automation, and immigration enforcement protocols. Workers sought pay reflecting the cost of living in Los Angeles, premium pay for mega-events like the World Cup, and contributions to a hospitality worker housing fund. They also demanded strict limits on subcontracting and AI-driven displacement of union positions, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles.
One of the most significant provisions addresses immigration enforcement. FIFA’s tournament accreditation process requires stadium workers to submit sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers and fingerprints. The ACLU of Southern California filed a formal complaint with the California Privacy Protection Agency and the state attorney general, raising concerns that this data could be shared with federal agencies.
UNITE HERE Local 11 Co-President Kurt Petersen said the agreement preserves workers’ right to strike if they believe ICE or Department of Homeland Security actions threaten their safety. “No other collective bargaining agreement in the country preserves the right to strike in response to ICE raids and attacks,” Petersen said. He credited the overwhelming strike authorization vote as the key factor in securing the agreement.
The specific terms of the deal — including exact wage increases, automation compromises, and data-privacy protections — have not been publicly released. Workers are scheduled to hold a ratification vote on Wednesday. If approved, the contract will secure stadium operations for the eight World Cup matches scheduled at SoFi Stadium.
The resolution removes a significant operational risk for the Inglewood venue ahead of the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on Friday. SoFi Stadium is one of 11 US host venues for the 2026 tournament, and labor disruptions would have drawn international attention to working conditions at one of the country’s most prominent sports facilities, as noted by Al Jazeera.
