Comic-Con briefly extends contract with city, union workers threaten to strike

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — With just one year left in its contract, Comic-Con announced that it will remain in San Diego until 2026.

Comic-Con has been a San Diego staple, with hundreds of thousands of pop culture fans from all over the world, flooding the San Diego Convention Center and the Gaslamp District every year. The out-of-town money then boosts the local economy as visitors spend their expenses on food, lodging and shopping at small businesses.

However, this is not the first time the future of Comic-Con and its plans to remain in San Diego has been up in the air.

Comic-Con continued to extend its contract in prior years despite claiming that the venue, the San Diego Convention Center, has become too small to accommodate its many attendees.

According to David Glanzer, a Chief Communications and Strategy Officer, this year's delay in negotiations with the City was due to negotiations regarding room blocks and hotel rates within those blocks.

ABC 10News contacted Mayor Todd Gloria's Office for a statement but has yet to hear back.

UNION FOR FOOD AND BEVERAGE EMPLOYEES AT CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORIZES STRIKE

Moving to a separate contract negotiation, some union workers at the convention center voted to authorize a strike if their leadership can't secure a new, long-term contract. According to a convention center spokesperson, this strike would apply to 650 contract employees from Sodexo Live, which is the convention center's exclusive food and beverage provider.

“Wednesday's strike authorization vote on the San Diego Convention Center and its management company Sodexo Live is crucial for our union members and the San Diego hospitality industry. Our members have shown they are ready to stand up for their rights and will not settle for less than they deserve,” said Jorge Arellano, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 30. “We demand improved working conditions, better benefits, and higher standards. By standing together, we send a powerful message to major industry leaders and hotel brands like Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and Omni. Change is not just necessary, but inevitable.”

According to a union spokesperson, its contract at the convention center expired on June 30. The two sides entered negotiations in early April, and the last time the union spoke with the convention center was about two weeks ago.

Both sides will be back at the negotiating table Friday. The union spokesperson says negotiations have not been successful so far, which is why they voted to strike. The vote from Wednesday had a 99.2% approval, and the spokesperson says this shows the union members are ready to escalate if SDCC and Sodexo Live do not meet their demands.

Sodexo Live released the following statement about the ongoing negotiations:

"We respect the rights of our employees and value our decades of positive, collaborative union relationships and hundreds of CBAs we have in good standing all across the country.

"Taking a strike vote is an expected part of the CBA negotiation process for Unite HERE. We continue to engage in good faith during ongoing negotiations with local Unite HERE 30, in a sincere attempt to reach a fair and competitive set of long-term agreements in a timely manner. Bargaining sessions are scheduled in the days ahead, and we look forward to continuing to offer attractive wages and conditions, while ensuring labor competitivity for our clients and consumers.

We are fully committed to reaching a new CBA for Unite HERE 30 members continuing to serve as economic catalysts for the local economy and helping secure long-term vitality for those who have careers with us at the San Diego Convention Center."

Union employees include cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, servers, concession workers and baristas.

Comic-Con is two weeks away, beginning Thursday, July 25.