Unions oppose plan to move NBA, NHL teams to northern Virginia, another blow to Youngkin-backed deal
Influential labor groups now say they are opposing efforts to move two professional sports franchises from the nation’s capital to northern Virginia, partially due to the apparent inability to reach a satisfactory deal for union workers on the construc...
RICHMOND, Va. — Influential labor groups announced Tuesday they are opposing efforts to move two professional sports franchises from the nation's capital to northern Virginia, citing in part an apparent inability to reach a satisfactory deal for union workers on the construction projects.
The opposition of the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO and member unions including UNITE HERE Local 25, which represents hospitality workers in the national capital region, creates another hurdle for Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and supporters of a proposed $2 billion deal to move the NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals from Washington, D.C., to Alexandria.
Youngkin, a Republican, responded to Tuesday's news by saying labor leaders had “backtracked” on negotiations carried out over months in “good faith.” He vowed to press forward with the proposal.
“Virginia is a right-to-work state and unreasonable demands from union leaders will not derail this project. I will continue to work with the General Assembly to complete this opportunity and bring $12 billion in economic contributions that will fund shared priorities in Virginia,” he said in a written statement.
The governor was already facing obstacles in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, particularly in the state Senate, where he has so far been unable to convince leaders to advance a bill underpinning the deal.
The House of Delegates has passedits version of the legislation necessary for the relocation to go forward.
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