Universal Studios Workers Plan Rally
Workers at Universal Studios Hollywood are planning a rally at the popular CityWalk complex. While the specific reasons for the demonstration have not been disclosed, it points to potential labor issues at the major LA entertainment destination.
The demonstration on February 26, 2026, was organized by workers demanding NBCUniversal ban U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from its property. This demand stems from the park's partnership with the upcoming LA28 Summer Games, which designates it a National Special Security Event, granting federal agencies like ICE increased authority on-site. Workers, many from immigrant or mixed-status families, fear the heightened federal presence could lead to surveillance and intimidation. The unions involved, including UNITE HERE Local 11 and IATSE Local B-192, have proposed contract language to prevent voluntary cooperation with ICE and condemn aggressive tactics by federal agencies. Alongside immigration-related safety concerns, the rally highlighted a push for an "Olympic Living Wage." The unions are fighting for a wage target of $30 per hour by 2028 to address the high cost of living in Los Angeles, which forces many employees to work multiple jobs or endure long commutes. This protest is part of a larger "Fair Games" movement that has also emerged in other Olympic host cities like Milan, opposing what activists call the "militarization" of global events. In California, a sanctuary state, the federal NSSE status for the Olympics could potentially override local laws that limit cooperation with ICE, amplifying worker concerns. A March 2024 UCLA Labor Center report, titled "Taken for a Ride," documented the economic struggles of the park's workforce. The study found that over two-thirds of the 6,000-plus service workers earned minimum wage, with many facing housing and food insecurity despite being employed at the profitable "Entertainment Capital of L.A.". The Universal Studios rally follows a significant period of labor action in Hollywood, including the 2023 strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA, which centered on fair compensation and job security in the streaming era. This broader climate of labor solidarity has also seen unionization efforts and contract negotiations at other Southern California theme parks, such as Disneyland.
