NAACP President Barber among headliners at rally against possible merger of ECU Physicians, Vidant

Two of eastern North Carolina's largest employers, Vidant Health and ECU Physicians, are in the process of combining large parts of their services. Those that aren’t in favor of the move spoke out Wednesday in a rally at the Eppes Recreation Center in Greenville.

The rally was held by the State Employees Association of North Carolina; and headlined by North Carolina NAACP President Reverend William Barber, State Senator Don Davis and Lieutenant Governor candidate Linda Coleman.

Earlier this year, the two entities announced that they would combine their clinical practices, among other things, into one company; known "VECU Medical Group” in the interim. The merger has been called "Project Unify."

Those in attendance at the rally say they believe that the potential merger would create a medical services monopoly in the east.

"It's a disservice to the state, it's a disservice to eastern North Carolina, to have less employees and decreased services,” said Barber. “What we should be doing instead is figuring out how to expand the health benefits and the health opportunities, and not make them go into decline.”

Barber also claims it could put 1,200 jobs and pensions in jeopardy as the two companies become one.

Vidant and ECU say the merger is taking place because they both provide so many of the same services within the same buildings. The two sides feel that the move would streamline services, leverage their bargaining power, and cut costs.

University officials say ECU Physicians alone lost about $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2013-2014. They feel that the move would help stabilize their Health Sciences division.