About 150 people gathered in Brewer on Sunday to support 23 workers laid off by the local DHL affiliate. DHL is a delivery service that competes with UPS and FedEx.

According to Jack McKay, president of the Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the rally raised about $4,700 to support the Brewer workers.

The workers lost their jobs in March when Black Bear Couriers of Orono, which had operated the Brewer outlet of DHL, sold the operation to Rydbom Express of Pennsylvania. The unionized workers were released when the company changed hands.

In a letter to Rydbom, Gov. John Baldacci and U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud said: “Our community stands for certain values. Of them are respect for the law, hard work and democracy. The workers at DHL Brewer voted for a union.”

The two Democratic politicians called the Rydbom firings an “affront to our community.”

According to McKay, some Republicans, including Maine Sen. Richard Rosen of Bucksport, have voiced support for the DHL workers.