Los Angeles Stadium workers urge FIFA to bar ICE from World Cup

Los Angeles Stadium workers urge FIFA to bar ICE from World CupA workers’ union at the World Cup venue has asked FIFA to keep ICE agents away from the venue to alleviate their fears.A union representing about 2,000 food service workers at the Los Angeles Stadium has asked FIFA to keep United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) away from World Cup operations in the city and warned ⁠workers could strike if their concerns are not addressed.Unite Here Local 11, which represents cooks, servers and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, said on Monday that the workers ⁠remain without a labour contract as the World Cup approaches.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Iranian women footballers reveal ‘enormous pressure’ of the Asian Cup sagalist 2 of 4‘Arnold No.1’: Iraq coach given hero’s welcome after sealing World Cup spotlist 3 of 4‘The World Cup curse’: Outcry as Italy miss out for third time in a rowlist 4 of 4Iran’s World Cup participation depends on relocation from US, minister saysend of listThe union laid out three main demands to FIFA and stadium owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment: A public commitment that ICE and Border Patrol will play no role in the tournament, protections ‌for union jobs and working conditions, and support for affordable housing for hospitality workers.Acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, has said ICE would play a “key part” in the World Cup, a prospect the union said threatened worker and guest safety in Los Angeles.Local 11 said it also wanted assurances that artificial ⁠intelligence and automation would not be used during the tournament to eliminate union jobs.The union linked its labour demands to broader concerns over housing costs in the Los Angeles area, particularly ⁠in Inglewood, and called for support for a workforce housing fund, restrictions on short-term rentals and tax measures aimed ⁠at funding affordable housing and immigrant family protections.“FIFA ⁠and its corporate sponsors will pocket billions from Los Angeles while refusing to even acknowledge the cooks, servers, and stand attendants who make this event possible,” Kurt Petersen, co-president of Local 11, ‌said in a statement.