ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Monumental Sports Entertainment District project that would move the Washington Wizards and Capitals to Virginia faces another hurdle. Key labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, are speaking out against the project.
The proposed arena project would bring 30,000 jobs to the area, but the concern from the unions is what exactly those jobs would look like.
“Taxpayers should not make a massive investment in a project that is only going to create more low-wage jobs for local workers,” said Virginia Diamond, President of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO.
Paul Schwalb, Executive-Secretary Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 25, called it a bad deal for workers.
“JBG Smith wants to line their pockets on the backs of Virginia workers. No thank you.”
The clear message from labor unions comes as Alexandria leaders take every opportunity they can to educate people about the Monumental Sports Entertainment District at Potomac Yard. They held another information session Tuesday night. But that information session was also met with opposition from the Stop The Arena group.
"We want good jobs in Virginia and we think JBG Smith and we think its unfortunate JBG won't step up to the plate, and if that's the case, it's just another reason not to have the arena here," said Fern Abrams with Stop the Arena.
JBG Smith is the developer for the project. A spokesperson said they were surprised to learn of the AFL-CIO's stance, saying the Sports and Entertainment District would create good-paying jobs, most of which would be union jobs.
"We believe that advancing the project will bring significant benefits to all parties, including organized labor," the statement reads.
In addition to approval from the General Assembly, Alexandria City Council also has to vote the project through. There is plenty of anger, anxiety and apprehension from locals, lawmakers and now union leaders, forcing some tough conversations for the plan to survive.
"Personally, I'm not wavering, but I am completely dedicated to working with our union folks and making sure their concerns are heard," said Councilmember Canek Aguirre. "Here in Alexandria, one of our big values is labor. If our labor partners aren't happy, we have to figure out how to make that happen."
Another protest is scheduled for Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in Alexandria. Labor leaders are expected to hold a press conference Thursday morning to share more specifics about their concerns with the plan.