Protesters on picket lines are possible during the U.S. team’s World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium, after Unite Here Local 11 signaled a strike vote for Thursday and Friday and said negotiations with Legends Global stalled over sensitive data demands, pay, and IC
Game day at SoFi Stadium has always been about sound and spectacle. But for fans heading to one of the venue’s eight World Cup matches, the next image may not be a kickoff—it’s a picket line.
Unite Here Local 11. the union representing about 2. 000 workers at SoFi. is moving forward with a vote that could authorize a strike on Thursday and Friday. The possibility is tied to operations in the final stretch of negotiations between the union and the stadium’s operator. Legends Global. over issues the union says were not resolved.
“Those threats are escalating,” Kurt Peterson, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, warned, adding, “It could get ugly, yes.”
The union says it met with Legends Global for negotiations on Wednesday, but that the strike authorization vote would still proceed as planned. Maria Hernandez, the union spokesperson, said the vote on whether to authorize a strike scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday will go forward.
The stakes are immediate. The U.S. men’s national team is set to play Paraguay in its opening game on June 12 at SoFi Stadium.
The dispute centers on what the union calls high-stakes conditions demanded during background checks, pay, and access for federal immigration enforcement.
FIFA. the worldwide governing body for soccer and organizer of the World Cup. is demanding Social Security numbers. fingerprints and other potentially sensitive information for background checks. according to the Los Angeles Times. The union objects, saying the information could end up in the possession of the Department of Homeland Security.
Pay is another fault line. The union says the stadium operators have fallen well short of its demand for a substantial raise to more than $30 an hour.
And the union is also pushing to keep ICE out of the stadium.
Legends Global. for its part. said it has enjoyed a strong relationship with Unite Here Local 11 for more than a decade and remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through good faith negotiations. In a statement provided to the press. the company said. “We look forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches at SoFi Stadium.”.
There is uncertainty about what any strike would look like on event days. It’s unclear how a potential strike would impact operations at the 70,000-seat stadium.
A simple question hangs over the lead-up to June 12: if negotiations failed to close the gap before the voting window opened, what exactly remains to prevent disruption once the stadium gates are ready to welcome tens of thousands of fans?
SoFi Stadium Unite Here Local 11 strike threat Legends Global FIFA World Cup Kurt Peterson Maria Hernandez Here United background checks Social Security numbers fingerprints Department of Homeland Security $30 an hour ICE
So are they gonna strike during the actual game or what.
This is why I hate labor stuff near big events. One minute it’s “negotiations stalled” and next thing there’s a picket line blocking everybody. Just let the fans in, like why is everyone making it harder.
Wait they want Social Security numbers and fingerprints?? That’s crazy, but also… aren’t those required for background checks anyway? Like I’m confused if it’s FIFA or the stadium demanding it. Either way, if it gets “ugly” they should’ve handled it before World Cup day. I feel bad for the workers and the fans.
Legends Global sounds like some tech company not a stadium operator lol. So the union’s mad about “sensitive data demands” and the article says DHS?? Isn’t DHS like deportation stuff? That’s a lot for a soccer match. Hope they don’t ruin the U.S. vs Paraguay thing, because people already paid and traveled. Also I heard on TikTok it’s gonna be “only a few picketers” but who knows.