Union members picket DeKalb Hampton Inn work site

DeKALB – Several members of the DeKalb County Building Construction and Trades Council picketed in front of the Hampton Inn and Suites Hotel construction site on Monday.

The picketers said they were at the South Annie Glidden Road location because the project is using mostly out-of-state workers.

"It's a shame that [the hotel] didn't see fit to get local companies to do that work," said Matt Swanson, president of the DeKalb County Building and Construction Trades Council.

Hillcrest Development of Dixon is the general contractor overseeing the project. Swanson said the company hired R & B Construction and Remodeling out of Arkansas as the subcontractor.

"We have people from out of state working here, which is unfortunate with the economy the way it is," Swanson said.

Al Hill, president and CEO of Hillcrest Development, could not be reached for comment Monday.