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Unions and community groups press Council for binding labor commitments and neighborhood protections in RFK redevelopment
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Summary
Union leaders, tradespeople and community advocates told the committee they support redevelopment of the RFK site only if the city secures project labor agreements for the stadium and the adjoining plaza and riverfront districts, and guarantees living-wage hospitality jobs for residents.
Union representatives, construction apprentices and community leaders urged the Committee on Business and Economic Development to secure stronger labor and community commitments in any RFK redevelopment deal before the Council considers financial support in the FY26 package.
"We support the project labor agreement covering the stadium district, but the plaza and riverfront districts must also be built with PLAs," Greg Ackerman of the Baltimore-DC Metro Building Trades told the Committee. Multiple speakers made a closely related point: a labor agreement limited to the stadium and parking garages would leave the larger development without protections that generate family-sustaining jobs for District residents.
Union witnesses described tangible outcomes from prior publicly supported projects. "The Cedar Hill project showed the success of the PLA model," Ackerman said, citing workforce numbers and local contracting outcomes. Several apprentices and union members testified about life-changing effects of trade careers and city-first hiring targets. "Working in the trades has been life changing," said Elishante Lindsay, a graduate of Plumbers Local 5, adding that agreements should cover all major parcels so "this investment creates lasting opportunity for DC residents."
Hospitality unions sought binding commitments that would ensure good, unionized jobs inside the venues and in hotels and restaurants planned for the surrounding entertainment district. "This deal is bad for workers and DC taxpayers unless there is a public commitment to good hospitality jobs at the stadium and at hotels and restaurants planned for the plaza and riverfront," Paul Schwab of Unite Here Local 25 said.
Community advocates and some civic groups also raised zoning, planning, and affordable housing questions tied to the RFK term sheet. The Committee received requests for fuller public review outside the compressed budget timeline, including concerns that Council action in a BSA timetable could short-circuit more extensive hearings. "A deal of this size deserves time, consideration, and public engagement," a representative of Committee of 100 on the Federal City said.
Committee members said they would continue hearings and follow-up with the Mayor's team and developer representatives ahead of any formal action. No votes were taken during the session.
