Los Angeles stadium workers authorize strike days ahead of FIFA World Cup

Workers at SoFi Stadium, located in Los Angeles County, California, voted overwhelmingly Friday to authorize a potential strike just days before the venue is set to host FIFA World Cup matches, raising the possibility of a labor disruption at one of the tournament's highest-profile U.S. sites.



The workers, represented by Unite Here Local 11, voted 96 percent in favor of authorizing a strike, according to the union and multiple news reports.



The vote does not guarantee a walkout, but it gives union leaders the authority to call one if contract talks fail to produce an agreement before the first scheduled match at the stadium on June 12.



About 2,000 hospitality workers -- including bartenders, servers, cooks, catering staff and dishwashers -- could be affected.



The dispute centers on wages, job protections and security concerns.



Union leaders say workers want pay reflecting the cost of living in Los Angeles, premium pay for mega-events such as the World Cup and safeguards against subcontracting and automation that could reduce union jobs.