Postal workers employed at the Hickory Processing and Distribution Facility at 110 Somerset Ave. are reaching out to local residents and elected officials in an effort to save their jobs.
About two weeks ago the United States Postal Service initiated a feasibility study to consider shifting the distribution center's second-shift operations to Greensboro, said Postal Spokeswoman Deborah Yackley.
In the past, this type of feasibility study has led to entire facilities being shut down, and Hickory employees are worried that could happen here, said local American Postal Workers Union President Norman W. Allen. About 40 people work second shift at the plant, which has a total of 190 employees, he said.
"There are a lot of scared people — they're afraid they're going to be unemployed," Allen said.
Postal workers have rallied local leaders to their cause.
"My concern is with the loss of jobs," said Hickory Mayor Rudy Wright. "I'm concerned about the quality of life for these people."
Although consolidations of this type are being considered all over the country, Wright said he feels certain none of the regions being looked at has had the same degree of job loss and unemployment as Hickory.
"I think they ought to close down the Greensboro site and send (the employees) all down here," Wright said.
Yackley said she understands workers are concerned, but said, "No postal employee has lost their job as a result of this type of study.
"It's really premature to be talking about this. We have not made any decision," she said adding she does not foresee any decision being made until the end of December.
Yackley said similar studies are being performed in Rocky Mount and Kinston.
Allen said any postal employee hired before November 2006 is protected against layoffs by their union-negotiated contract. There are 20 employees at the Hickory center that were hired after that date who stand to lose their jobs.
Doug Woodward is one of those employees. He said he's concerned about his job, but he's more concerned about the decline in customer service and efficiency that he feels would accompany the consolidation.
Conover City Manager Donald Duncan agrees.
"The mail that's collected here would have to be shipped 90 miles to be sorted and 90 miles back to be delivered," he said. "We believe that would delay people's mail."
"Service would not be negatively impacted — we would not allow that," Yackley said. "We've done this every few years just to make sure we're operating efficiently."
Joshua McCroan has worked at the Hickory center for the past five years. He said it would probably be shut down if the employees hadn't worked to gain community support to keep the facility and its employees in Hickory.
Now, he thinks he and his co-workers may have a fighting chance.
For more information, go to www.conovernc.gov and click on "Local Postal Service Operations Could Be Cut!"
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