Reported by: Tom McKee
Photographed by: 9News
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Workers in danger of losing their jobs at DHL in Wilmington are asking the major party presidential candidates for help.
That was one of the main messages delivered Monday during a rally of employees and their families on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.
DHL has announced plans to shift its domestic packaging operations from Clinton County to UPS in Louisville.
If that happens, 8,000 employees of DHL, ABX Air and A-Star could be out of work.
That would have a serious economic impact on the City of Wilmington, Clinton County and the rest of Southwestern Ohio.
"We're not taking this lying down," said Mark Dimondstein, Lead Field Organizer with the American Postal Workers Union, and organizer of the "Save The Jobs" effort. "We believe the deal can be stopped and should be stopped."
Over 100 workers and family members rode buses from Clinton County to attend the Columbus rally.
A-Star Pilot Curt Shaffner of Milford brought his three children with him to demonstrate how the DHL deal will impact his family.
"It's huge," Shaffner said, surrounded by 14-year-old Tyler, 12-year-old Ryan and 10-year-old Kelly. "There are a lot of unemployed pilots out there right now, so getting a new job is going to be very difficult and I might have to find another career."
Shaffner has put the family's house on the market and will downsize to cut expenses. He hopes to stay in the Milford area.
"We got blindsided," said Joanne Heller, who drives a forklift for ABX Air.
She came to the rally with her 13-year-old son, Tommy.
Heller said she just moved into a house and worries whether she'll be able to keep it if she loses her job or even find other work.
"We need everybody to see that Clinton County and the counties around us are going to be devastated," she said, adding that her mood is a cross between anger and worry at the present time.
As the workers formed lines and moved in unison from the buses to the statehouse steps, a chant could be clearly heard, "UPS. DHL. Destroying Homes and Lives."
Speakers stepped to a podium flanked by workers and family members in bright yellow shirts.
Others wore their pilot uniforms.
Retired ABX Air pilot John Lundblad interjected the DHL issue right into the middle of the contest between Democratic Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.
"We expect anyone wishing to be voted as President of the United States to actively work to stop the DHL/UPS merger." Lundblad said.
Since the economy is a major issue in the race for the White House, the potential loss of 8,000 jobs was repeatedly mentioned during the rally.
"Many more jobs will cascade through the communities of Southwestern Ohio and untold devastation will be wrought on the workers, their families and small businesses," said Sherry Barrett, who has been with ABX Air for 22-years.
Her husband has worked there almost as long.
Wilmington businesswoman Molly Dullea echoed that sentiment.
She runs the General Denver Hotel, downtown, and says a DHL shutdown would force her to close the historic facility and lay off 17 employees.
Dullea added she wouldn't be the only one taking such drastic action.
"More than 80% of the small business owners in the city would have to close as well," she estimated.
At the end of the rally, petitions containing 10,800 names were presented to representatives of Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Nancy Rogers.
It's hoped they will lead the fight against the DHL/UPS deal on anti-trust grounds.
"The DHL/UPS plan will limit competition within the shipping and delivery industry and undoubtedly raise rates for all consumers," said Dullea.
Joe Teuchert, who has piloted a Boeing 727 for 15-years for A-Star, said the people of Southwestern Ohio are counting on the Governor and Attorney General to remain firm in their committment to help.
"They need to do all in their power to stop the partial merger of DHL and UPS before DHL destroys our homes and lives," he said.
DHL has become Ohio's number one economic issue right now, according to Mark Barbash, the state's chief economic development officer.
"We fight every day to get new jobs to come into the community," Barbash said. "We're always working on businesses growing in the Ohio, but you have to be equally as strong when you have a situation like DHL."
However, he added that an anti-trust review of the matter will have to wait until a deal is actually finalized between DHL and UPS.
Shaffner summed up the employees' attitude when he said, "We're doing everything we can and we're not going down without a fight,"
"Save the jobs and please save our community," pleaded Dullea.
