More than a dozen stadium, airport and hospitality workers gathered outside Shell Energy Stadium on Houston\u2019s east side Wednesday evening, calling for higher wages and greater respect for workers ahead of the upcoming World Cup.<\/p>\n
The demonstration took place shortly before a soccer match at the stadium, with workers and organizers arguing that rising prices for concessions and other goods have not translated into better pay for employees.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to be on the world stage in just a few weeks, and we want to make sure the city recognizes and respects these workers, who are living paycheck to paycheck on low wages,\u201d said Franchesca Caraballo, an organizer with UNITE HERE Local 23.<\/p>\n
Workers at the rally declined to identify their employers or the contractors they work for. Organizers also emphasized that the demonstration was intended to raise awareness, not disrupt events tied to the World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s definitely not the plan at all,\u201d Caraballo said when asked whether a strike was possible. \u201cWe want to raise awareness. A lot of people don\u2019t even know the struggle of the workers who put on these events.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rubie Garza, a part-time stadium worker of 23 years who currently works as a beer vendor, said employees have struggled to keep up with the rising cost of living.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re giving a 10% raise on their products,\u201d Garza said. \u201cHow come we can\u2019t get some of that from the product?\u201d<\/p>\n
Garza said her hourly wage increased to $10 an hour about two years ago, but she said tips are too inconsistent to make up the difference.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times they tell us they don\u2019t give us a raise because we get tips, but we can\u2019t depend on tips because we don\u2019t get them all the time,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
In an emailed statement Wednesday night, Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis expressed support for the workers\u2019 concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cStadium concessions workers deserve fair pay, dignity, and the ability to support themselves and their families without working three or four jobs just to stay afloat,\u201d Ellis said.<\/p>\n
Workers at the rally stressed they do not plan to strike during World Cup events, but said wages should rise alongside the increasing cost of everyday expenses.<\/p>\n