Fairfax County union workers to rally in support of Tysons Corner entertainment district

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. ( DC News Now ) — The Fairfax County Jobs Coalition is holding a rally and press conference to support the development of an entertainment district and casino at Tysons Corner.

The coalition is a recently formed group, that includes the Northern Virginia AFL-CIO, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, construction trades unions, UNITE HERE, the hotel and restaurant workers union, SEIU 32bj, and CASA.

The proposed entertainment district and casino would include restaurants, a concert venue, retail, housing for workers as well as a high-end hotel with a gaming floor.

“The developer has agreed to a project labor agreement for the entertainment district and casino,” said Greg Akerman, the president of the area Building Trades unions. “A PLA will guarantee that workers are paid family-sustaining wages and Fairfax County residents have the chance to get on-the-job training opportunities through apprenticeship programs.”

Union workers said the project would bring more than 5,000 jobs to the area.

“There are union agreements in place that provide a fair process for thousands of workers to decide on permanent union jobs that would dramatically raise living standards for low- income workers in our community,” said Virginia Diamond, the president of the NoVA Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.

David Walrod, the president of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, said the project is expected to generate about $140 million of additional commercial tax revenue for the county.

“This is an important opportunity to bring in more commercial tax revenue for schools and other county services, which is sorely needed,” said Walrod.

The coalition is also asking for the board of supervisors to support a bill in the general assembly that would allow people who live in Fairfax County to vote in a referendum on whether they would support the project or not.

The event is taking place on Oct. 22 at 8:30 a.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center.

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