Universal Studios Hollywood food service workers vote to authorize a strike

Food service workers at the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park have voted to authorize a strike, according to their union, UNITE HERE Local 11. The union said on Friday, September 25, 2026, that more than 98% of workers voted in favor, after months of negotiations with NBCUniversal Comcast failed to produce a new agreement.

The vote

According to UNITE HERE Local 11, the vote covers hundreds of food service workers at the park, including cooks and food stand attendants. The union said that following the vote, workers could walk out at any time. No strike date had been announced in the union's statements.

UNITE HERE Local 11 represents more than 32,000 workers in hotels, restaurants, airports, sports arenas and convention centers in Southern California and Arizona, according to the union.

What workers are asking for

The union says the workers' collective bargaining agreement expired on December 31, and that months of negotiations have not brought significant movement from the company. According to the union, the workers are seeking wage increases, affordable and accessible health insurance, and fair staffing levels.

The union cited a survey it conducted of 828 food service workers, which it says represents about half of the park's food service workforce. According to the union, 52.9% of respondents said they had gone hungry because they did not have enough money, 60.1% said they had had to choose between food, medication and housing, and 11.3% said they had experienced homelessness while employed at the park. These figures come from the union and have not been independently verified.

A cook identified by the union as Stephanie, who works in the park's Upper Lot, said: "Every week I'm having to make choices like 'do I pay for the internet, or do I pay for my phone? Do I buy food, or do I pay rent?' It's exhausting playing mental gymnastics with my paycheck. I'm tired of it, that's why I voted to go on strike."

The company

Universal Studios Hollywood is owned by NBCUniversal, part of Comcast. In its release, the union pointed to Comcast's theme parks revenue, which it said reached $9.8 billion in 2025, and to the pay of Comcast's top executives. The union's statements did not include a response from NBCUniversal, and the company's position on the talks was not stated in the union's materials.

Why it matters

The vote brings a labor dispute to one of the theme parks run by a major Hollywood studio owner. The union is tying its demands to the parks division's revenue and to executive pay at Comcast, and says its own survey shows many food service workers struggle to cover basic needs. With the authorization in place, the union says workers could strike at any time, which raises the stakes for the next round of talks with NBCUniversal Comcast.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.