Union survey finds food insecurity at Universal Studios Hollywood

In a Unite Here Local 11 survey, nearly 53% of Universal Studios Hollywood workers who responded said they sometimes skipped eating because they couldn’t afford food.

Some of the people serving food at Universal Studios Hollywood say they can’t always afford to eat.

Unite Here Local 11 represents about 1,700 food-service, bakery, restaurant and warehouse workers at Universal Studios Hollywood. In a new survey of its members, the union says many still struggle to pay for food and housing, The Hollywood Reporter reported Friday, Oct. 30.

This is the union’s own survey, and THR says it wasn’t given the methodology. Universal says it’s still bargaining in good faith toward a new contract.

What did the union survey find?

A total of 828 union members responded. Local 11 says that’s “nearly half” of the park’s food-service workforce.

Here’s what those workers reported, according to THR:

• Just over 60% had to choose between food, medications or housing in the past year.

• Nearly 53% sometimes skipped eating when they were hungry because they couldn’t afford food.

• Nearly 26% got food assistance, such as SNAP, WIC or food banks.

• Just over 11% were unhoused at some point while working at the park.

Local 11 ran the survey itself. We haven’t seen when it was taken.

What are Universal Studios Hollywood workers saying?

Chris Lillian, a food stand attendant, makes $24 an hour. Lillian’s hours have dropped from about 40 a week to about 32, THR reported.

“I would bet money that I’m one emergency away from just ruin,” Lillian said.

Heather Saxxon, another food stand attendant, makes $23 an hour. She also drives for Lyft and HopSkipDrive.

“Sometimes I’ve had to forego my medications because I’m not making enough,” Saxxon said.

“Everything is just getting higher, you know, but not our pay,” she added.

A cook identified as Cat makes $28 an hour but usually works under 30 hours a week. Cat’s hours were cut at the start of the year.

“Honestly, I don’t want to worry about what do I got to eat next?” said Diego Rodriguez, also a cook.

Employees get a $9.50 food voucher, THR reported.

“I have worked here for 13 years, and it used to be a fun job,” Satoshi, a food stand attendant, said in a Local 11 release.

How much do Universal Studios Hollywood workers make?

The minimum wage in unincorporated Los Angeles County, where Universal City sits, is $18.47 an hour. The three workers whose pay THR listed make $23 to $28 an hour.

Their last contract gave them a 23% raise over three years. Workers told THR that the raise didn’t keep up with rising costs.

Where do the contract talks stand?

The contract expired “nearly nine months” ago, and talks have gone on for about a year, according to THR.

The union is asking for a 20% raise over the life of the new deal. It also wants revised scheduling, a 40-hour week for senior workers and some six-hour shifts expanded to eight hours.

In a Sept. 25 release, Local 11 said it also wants affordable health insurance and fair staffing. The union says Universal is trying to eliminate seniority.

In September, “over 98%” of voting members authorized a strike, Local 11 said. THR says that vote lets the union’s negotiators call a strike at any time. Its report doesn’t mention one being called.

What does Universal say?

A Universal spokesperson told THR, “We remain fully engaged in the collective bargaining process.”

The company says it continues to work in good faith toward an agreement. It also says its proposals “reflect this longstanding commitment” to its labor partners.

The statement THR published doesn’t respond to the survey numbers directly.

Has anyone studied this before?

Yes. A UCLA Labor Center report, “Taken for a Ride: Poverty and Food Insecurity Among Workers at Universal Studios Hollywood,” looked at the same problems earlier. THR compares the new survey with that study.

The Labor Center did that study with UCLA’s Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. Local 11 and IATSE Local B192 were its partner unions. It surveyed 1,330 workers and interviewed about 20.

THR says that study found 67% of workers didn’t earn enough for monthly food, housing and utilities. It also found 53% cut meal sizes or skipped meals, and about a quarter got food benefits.

For now, the two sides are still at the bargaining table. Local 11’s strike vote means its negotiators can call a strike at any time.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• The Hollywood Reporter (Oct. 30, 2026), the survey, worker interviews and Universal’s statement

• Unite Here Local 11 (Sept. 25, 2026), the strike vote and contract demands

• UCLA Labor Center, the earlier “Taken for a Ride” study

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