SoFi Stadium workers reach tentative labor deal, averting World Cup strike

SoFi Stadium workers who had threatened to walk off the job during the World Cup have reached a tentative labor deal, averting a strike.

Their union, Unite Here Local 11, announced the deal Tuesday morning. The workers were pushing for better pay and protections against ICE, which is part of security plans for the World Cup.

" We won everything we asked for," said union spokesperson Maria Hernandez.

That includes premium pay for workers staffing the World Cup and similar events, and a pay bump across the board, although Hernandez declined to say how much.

Under the new agreement, workers will also maintain the right to strike over safety concerns, including the presence of immigration agents at the workplace. Hernandez called that "unprecedented" for a union contract.

" Usually when you win a contract, workers give up the right to strike," she said. "But that did not happen in this case, which is pretty huge."

Around 2,000 food and beverage workers at SoFi Stadium are covered by the contract. They still need to vote to finalize the deal.

Susana Lahargue, who works at at the stadium, said she was happy with the agreement.

"We got the best contract," she said. " It was a good negotiation."

A spokesperson for Legends Global, the company that operates food and beverages at the stadium, said in a statement that it was pleased the two sides reached an agreement.

“[We] look forward to delivering an outstanding hospitality experience for fans at the FIFA World Cup matches," the spokesperson wrote in a statement to LAist.

SoFi Stadium will host eight World Cup matches starting Friday, when the U.S. plays Paraguay.