Universal Studios Workers Plan Rally
Workers at Universal Studios Hollywood are planning a rally at CityWalk to protest stalled contract negotiations. Union members are organizing the demonstration to advocate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.
The unions leading the charge, UNITE HERE Local 11 and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) Local B-192, have been in contract negotiations with Universal since November of last year. The unions represent a wide range of non-management employees at the theme park and its adjacent CityWalk retail and dining venues. A central and unusual demand in the negotiations is a proposal for an "ICE-Free" zone on park property. The unions are asking for contract language that would prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from being voluntarily allowed onto the premises without a judicial warrant and for the company to publicly condemn intimidating tactics by federal immigration agencies. This demand stems from Universal's partnership with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and the LA28 Summer Olympics. These events are designated as National Special Security Events (NSSE), which grants federal agencies like ICE and Homeland Security expanded access to private venues, raising concerns among the park's diverse workforce. Alongside the immigration-related protections, the unions are fighting for significant wage increases, citing the high cost of living in Southern California. A May 2023 report stated that two-thirds of the union members at the park earned "around minimum wage," with some workers reporting experiences with homelessness. More recent data from February 2026 shows hourly pay for ride operators ranging from $19.00 to $25.80. The push for higher wages comes as Universal's parent company, Comcast, reports strong financial performance from its theme parks division. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Universal theme parks generated $2.9 billion in revenue, a 22% increase from the previous year, with adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization up 24% to over $1 billion. This labor action is part of a broader trend of union activity in the Los Angeles entertainment and hospitality sectors. The city is a focal point for labor negotiations, with major contracts for unions like SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America also expiring in 2026, setting the stage for a year of potentially high-stakes bargaining across the industry. Proposals from the unions include job security for any employee detained by immigration officials and paid leave for workers who become caretakers for minors whose guardians have been detained. As of early March 2026, NBCUniversal had not agreed to the proposed protections sought by the unions.
