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Wednesday, August 27, 1997

Female postal workers protest alleged harassment, discrimination

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- About 75 female U.S. Postal Service employees marched, chanted and donned gas masks at the city's main post office to protest a "toxic work environment" they claim includes sexual harassment.

The postal workers, joined in the demonstration Monday by members of the National Organization for Women, called for the ouster of Victor Duran Jr., district manager for customer services and sales.

"We are here because we have continual harassment, and when we complain, there is continual retaliation," said Kathy Davis, who identified herself as the city's only female postal station manager.

Duran declined comment through Stephen Seewoester, a U.S. Postal Service communications specialist who was in San Antonio from Dallas on Monday.

A dozen women have filed more than 100 complaints with the Postal Service's internal Equal Employment Opportunity office.

The women allege sexual discrimination in promotions and career opportunities; sexual harassment, some involving pornographic materials and lewd comments; retaliation for filing complaints; theft of personal property; and an abusive system of promotions and punishments.

"It's a system where you have to swear personal loyalty to win favors. I was advised I'd have to kiss the ring to get ahead. We have to eliminate this Ôpatron' system and clean house," said marcher Veronica Flores, coordinator for Postal Service projects with Mexico.

Postal Service investigators looked into the alleged problems in San Antonio in March and prepared an internal report. Sabrina C. Arellano, an attorney representing some of the women, said the report has not been made available to her.

The San Antonio district covers 495 post offices from Waco to Brownsville and El Paso to Victoria.

Duran was appointed to head the district in 1992 but was removed in 1995 by Southwest area vice president Charles Kernan in Dallas. He returned as a manager after filing a complaint alleging discrimination against Hispanics.