Stadium workers near LA say they have a tentative deal, averting strike ahead of World Cup
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Stadium workers near Los Angeles say they have reached a tentative contract agreement for pay raises and workforce protections, averting a preseason strike. US men’s soccer team The opening match of the World Cup is on Friday.
The union, which represents 2,000 bartenders, waiters, cooks and dishwashers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, announced the details at a press conference on Tuesday. The deal comes after workers voted last week allow a strike When contract negotiations with the stadium’s food service provider, Legends Global, stalled.
Workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 11 said they want wage increases, protection against outsourcing and job security at a time when immigration enforcement has increased under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11, said the tentative contract would give stadium cooks among the highest wages in the country, with many earning $40 an hour about two years from now. Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“We won huge raises,” Petersen said as workers cheered at the press conference.
Some cooks currently earn about $31 an hour and will see their hourly wages rise to $38 or $39 in the next two years, said Islagisbel Castillo, 21, one of the suite cooks on the bargaining committee. Workers will vote on Wednesday on whether to approve the deal.
“This is a very proud moment for all of us,” said stadium suite runner Yolanda Fierro. “We really want to ensure the safety of all our employees.”
Legends Global said in a statement that the company was pleased to reach an agreement with the workers and looked forward to providing an “exceptional hospitality experience” at the World Cup matches in Inglewood.
Petersen said workers reserve the right to strike in case of an immigrant raid at the workplace. He said this was the last issue on the table in discussions with the company.
“No other collective bargaining agreement in the country protects the right to strike in response to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids and attacks,” he said. “We hope we never have to exercise this right.”
world cup It is expected to draw millions of fans to matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico over 39 days this summer.
Eight games are scheduled at SoFi StadiumWe start on Friday with the match between the USA and Paraguay. Opened in 2020, the stadium seats 70,000 and is home to the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.
The taxi was reported to be from Santa Ana, California.
