Unions and immigrant‑advocates press Santa Clara for worker protections and ICE‑free event policies ahead of Super Bowl
Loading...
Summary
Labor groups, immigrant advocates and union representatives urged the Santa Clara City Council to adopt enforceable protections for workers and immigrants at Super Bowl and FIFA events, including contract standards, transparency and limits on immigration‑enforcement access to city‑controlled sites.
A coalition of labor groups and immigrant‑rights organizations urged the Santa Clara City Council on Jan. 13 to require stronger worker protections and safety protocols for major sporting events hosted in the city.
Speakers from Working Partnerships USA, Silicon Valley Rising, Unite Here Local 19, the South Bay Labor Council and several unions told the council that event planning for Super Bowl 60 and FIFA events must include enforceable contracting standards, wage and safety protections, and clear limits on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
“Every worker deserves safety, fair pay and dignity,” Daya Kunkun of Unite Here Local 19 told the council, asking that labor organizations and community partners be included in planning. JP Connolly of Silicon Valley Rising urged the city to require transparent reporting on who performs event work and to adopt minimum contracting standards.
Sheila Lawton, assistant business manager for IBW Local 1245, said the workforce at Silicon Valley Power faces sustained vacancies and heavy overtime, turning recruitment and retention into public safety concerns. “This is not a minor staffing challenge. It is a reliability and safety concern,” she said, urging council attention to compensation and staffing levels.
Speakers called on the city to limit access to city‑owned properties by immigration authorities without a valid judicial warrant, echoing recent actions in neighboring jurisdictions. Several union representatives also asked the city to bargain in good faith with city employees who will shoulder increased operational demands during major events.
City staff acknowledged the concerns and noted follow‑up discussions and coordination with police and event planners would continue; no formal city policy was adopted at the meeting. Speakers asked the council to translate the public recommendations into enforceable contract language and operational plans that would be binding for events at Levi’s Stadium and other city‑controlled facilities.
What’s next: advocates asked the council and staff to meet with unions and community groups to draft enforceable protections and to return with proposed contract language before large events begin.
