By LESLIE BEISTLINE
leslie@du2.byu.edu
The American Postal Worker's Union organized a national rally Wednesday protesting a contract with Emery, but only 15 postal employees showed up for the rally outside the postal office in Salt Lake City.
Emery, in Philadelphia, is one of the largest private freight companies in the United States. Union members are concerned about what this contracting will mean in the future, said Mark Kirkwood, president of the APWU.
Kirkwood said it is important to support the APWU, even if it does not affect the workers locally.
'We were very selective in deciding to rally. We basically got a few people to generate support and interest in what's going nationally,' Kirkwood said.
Steve Harvey, acting manager of East Bay's Postal Distribution Center, said the contracting is not an issue in Utah, but it is back East.
'Workers feel the outsourcing back East in Emery is taking jobs away and giving it to outside sources. The union would like to hire more employees, not subcontract everything out,' Harvey said.
Kirkwood said workers are not concerned with job security in Utah.
'Utah will not see any gain or loses in postal jobs. The union just wants people to understand that the postal service directly or indirectly affects everyone, not just employees,' Kirkwood said.
Harvey said the contracting will work to everyone's advantage. 'We need Emery to manage our mail centers. Commercial airlines can't handle the bulk of the priority mail coming in. A private freight company is the only answer.'
Ron Saenz, supervisor of East Bay's distribution operations said apathy contributes to workers lack of involvement.
'We don't see that this is really a big issue in Utah. We will have more timely service, and Emery is on line to go,' Saenz said.
Beverly Berge, customer relations coordinator for Salt Lake City, said Emery has the needed infrastructure to quickly start a processing center.
'Emery has the capabilities to increase efficiency and decrease cost for the industry and customers,' Berge said.
'These union members are holding a perfectly lawful informative picket, off the clock. These sorts of things do not affect the distribution of mail, but do raise issues that members feel are important,' Berge said.