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Unite Here 96% Vote Strike Over FIFA Pay, Safety

6/7/2026

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Summary

Unite Here Votes Strike

Unite Here Local 11 union members voted 96 percent to strike during the FIFA World Cup.
Workers demand higher pay and a guarantee that ICE agents stay out of SoFi Stadium.
Negotiations with Legends Global and FIFA stalled on pay and safety, prompting new talks on June 8.
Union co-president Kurt Petersen warned a strike would leave $100,000 FIFA suites with only bottled water and Doritos.

Summary

SoFi Stadium Hosts

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood will host the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic swimming.
Tickets for the June 12 U.S.–Paraguay match start at $2,000, with World Cup featuring 48 teams, 104 games in 11 U.S. cities and in Mexico and Canada, ending July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Community groups in Atlanta and Miami have called for a halt to U.S. immigration enforcement during matches, while organizers expect millions of fans.

Summary

Unite Here Challenges

The union filed an unfair-labor-practice charge with the NLRB in April, alleging ICE’s presence threatens collective-bargaining.
Unite Here Local 11 petitioned California Attorney General Rob Bonta to investigate FIFA’s accreditation that collects workers’ Social Security numbers.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said ICE will attend World Cup matches for terrorism threats, not immigration enforcement.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis affirmed the department will secure the event under federal law.

Summary

SoFi Stadium Opens

The opening ceremony at SoFi Stadium is scheduled for June 11 and will feature performances by Katy Perry, LISA, Rema, Anitta and Future.
Suite packages for the opening matches cost over $100,000 each and target premium-hospitality clients.
The ACLU of Southern California, Unite Here Local 11 and the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy filed a joint complaint urging the California Privacy Protection Agency to review FIFA’s accreditation data practices.

History

Historical Context

In 1984 Los Angeles hosted a financially profitable Games that relied on existing venues and a $126 million private-sponsor model, while 140 nations competed despite a Soviet-led boycott. The success set a template for future hosts, and the city’s upcoming 2028 Olympics have revived labor-rights debates involving the United States Olympic Committee and local unions.

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Unite Here Votes Strike

Unite Here Local 11 union members voted 96 percent to strike during the FIFA World Cup.
Workers demand higher pay and a guarantee that ICE agents stay out of SoFi Stadium.
Negotiations with Legends Global and FIFA stalled on pay and safety, prompting new talks on June 8.
Union co-president Kurt Petersen warned a strike would leave $100,000 FIFA suites with only bottled water and Doritos.

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