Dec. 01–ALBANY — Union leaders called for a boycott of a downtown Albany hotel in a dispute over the owner's use of nonunion workers for renovations last month.

On Monday, Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Council President Jeff Stark said that United Capital Corp., of Great Neck, owners of the Hilton Hotel on Lodge Street, were not working to ensure further work there is done by unionized construction workers.

Already, the Public Employees Federation, which represents white-collar state workers, has pulled its executive board meeting from the hotel this week in support of the boycott. Stark said more events, including a meeting later this month by United University Professions, will also be yanked from the hotel.

UUP, which represents faculty at the State University of New York, could not immediately confirm his claim.

Stark also said a stop-work order was issued by the city for the Hilton after United Capital Corp. failed to seek city permits for renovation work being done by nonunion workers on the hotel's 14th and 15th floors last month.

"This was a very foolish mistake by the company," Stark said. Workers at the hotel have long been represented by a union, he added. "We have offered to meet with the company, but so far, they have refused, so we are calling for a boycott between now and whenever this is settled."

United Capital acquired the 17-story, 395-room Hilton in March after it had already undergone more than $16 million in renovations provided by union labor.

On Monday, hotel manager David Hayes issued the following statement: "While we are sorry that PEF pulled their business from us, and it is unfortunate that this misunderstanding happened, there are some facts we would like to share. As a union environment we recognize the importance of working with our union partners."

Hayes said renovation has not resumed since being stopped Nov. 13. He added that revised renovation plans are "now being redrawn by an architect, and will be put out for open bid after we receive the drawings, on or around Dec. 8. This bidding process is open to all contractors, including union contractors. We are working very diligently to forge a solution of this matter."

The company owns and manages more than 150 real estate properties nationwide, as well as two manufacturing companies providing engineered products to industrial and automotive markets. United also owns and operates a portfolio of eight hotels, including three DoubleTree by Hilton hotels in Rochester, Miami; and Windsor Locks, Conn.

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