Hotel denies claim of picketing carpenters

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Hotel denies claim of picketing carpenters

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Providence Journal - Providence,RI*

By Salit

Journal Staff Writer

http://www.projo.com/ri/newport/content/EB_NPTPICKETS27_12-27-

07_378D44K_v9.22b554a.html

NEWPORT — A carpenters union that has been shut out of a $34-million

renovation project at the Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel and Spa

picketed yesterday at the Goat Island causeway, accusing the hotel

of improperly removing mold.

Representatives of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters,

Local 1305, passed out leaflets stating that " mold is not being

remediated in specification laid out in federal guidelines. " A

photograph on the leaflet purports to show mold on a wall being

refurbished.

" Makes you wonder what your room looks like under that wallpaper, "

it read, adding, " Where a room with a view offers much more than an

ocean view and a salty breeze. "

The hotel yesterday called the allegations untrue and questioned the

union's motives.

" The claim that the local carpenters union is making is false. And

they know it is, " said general manager Karchner. " This group

has no involvement whatsoever in the renovation project. Apparently

they are disappointed in that fact. "

" For our part it's a $34-million renovation that's going on — a

complete transformation of this hotel. If any mold is ever found, we

do remediate it and follow the federal guidelines. "

The Amstar Group, of Denver, purchased the nine-story hotel in

September and announced plans for $23 million in improvements. That

figure has since climbed to $34 million, said Karchner. He said that

all guest rooms are undergoing a complete refurbishment as well as

public areas inside and outside the hotel. The number of rooms is

being reduced to 257 from 264 to create a presidential suite and a

bridal suite on the top floor. Also, a 145-car, two-story garage

will replace a parking lot with 45 spots.

The general contractor for the project is Stone Street Construction,

of Providence. The work began in October and the major portions of

it will be completed by March 31, Karchner said.

Palmisciano, the union's district business manager, said the

picketing has taken place for several weeks and is intended to

highlight the mold issue and the fact that contractor " does not have

an agreement with us " to hire union carpenters.

" At this point they are looking for the cheapest way out to

refurbish this hotel. They have proven this by taking the short cuts

they have taken, " said Palmisciano. " We're out there informing the

public that we believe the hotel and the selection of a substandard

contractor is doing substandard work in the hotels. "

He said that union members who observed the work " found a lot of

drywall to be full of mold. " When the union sent the hotel a copy of

its leaflet, the hotel said it was within its right to paint over

the mold instead of removing the drywall, Palmisciano said. But the

federal government recommends removal, he said.

rsalit@...