Lionel Messi, Inter Miami and MLSPA Support Striking Hotel Workers

Striking hotel workers in Los Angeles are delighted to have the support of star footballer Lionel Messi, his Inter Miami teammates and the union of professional Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA). 

The soccer players acted swiftly and empathetically through their own union. The strong links and inclination with the striking hotel workers doesn’t come as a surprise. Connor Tobin, executive director of the United Soccer League Players Association (USLPA), said there are specific issues. He explained that the issues can seem different, but at the foundation it’s the same struggle. 

“As employees, how do we make sure we’re represented and that how we’re treated and compensated is equitable? There are also a lot of similarities between the hotel workers in LA and the actors or writers on strike right now at SAG-AFTRA.” 

Inter Miami Stands With Striking Hotel Workers

Tobin believes a lot of these concepts are exactly the same. “So how can we then, as sports union and players that maybe have a different visibility, bring light to their struggle?” As such, the Inter Miami players raised the visibility of the hotel workers’ struggles. 

The players issued a statement through MLSPA highlighting the hotel change. By involving their union, the players know and understand the situation. It read “the MLSPA is proud to stand with the striking workers at the Fairmont Miramar and other LA-area hotels.“

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“We applaud the decision by MLS and Inter Miami to change hotels this weekend. We urge all of the hotels to reach fair contracts with their workers ASAP.” 

The statement reflected the players’ solidarity. They also called for action to be taken in favor of the striking workers. 

Hotel Workers Alerted Lionel Messi

Before walking out on a strike, the hotel workers made Lionel Messi and Inter Miami aware about their plans through a public statement. Workers walked out of 13 Santa Monica-based hotels. This came about when they called for a boycott of their hotel. Workers at Fairmont Miramar called for a boycott of their hotel, two weeks ago, after hotel security officers were seen in a viral video violently attacking their own employees while they tried to establish a picket line. 

Keith Grossman, an attorney who represents the hotels, described actions of Messi and his Team as “just one more nonsensical Union effort” to drive business away from LA hotels.