Letter carriers rally outside the Federal Building in Syracuse
/ photo by Lisa Spitz
SYRACUSE -- On Thursday evening, letter carriers rallied in front of the Federal Building in downtown Syracuse to bring public awareness to proposed cuts.
Jim Lostumbo, president of Local 134 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said they spoke out against Senate Bill 1789. He said the proposal would end Saturday delivery in two years and end door to door delivery to 35 million American businesses and home. He also said the passage of the bill would eliminate 80,000 to 100,000 jobs.
The U.S. Postal Service has been dealing with a financial crisis over the past few years. Lostumbo says "unfair mandates" are a big problem, as they're paying for future retirees health benefits that haven't even been hired yet.
He said the Postal Service is required to give $5.5 billion a year to the Treasury Department.
"We are bleeding," Lostumbo said.
Lostumbo said letter carriers want the public to be aware of the impact of this bill. He said many seniors would not get mail to their homes.
"We want them to know you need a strong postal service," Lostumbo said.
On Thursday, Maureen Marion, Manager of Corporate Communications for the U.S. Postal Service, told us she couldn't speak specifically about the rally of union postal workers in Syracuse.
Marion did issue a statement, saying, "we look forward to Congress going back because we need them to address the postal service agenda."
The U.S. Postal Service is facing some challenges, including relief for unfunded mandates and a dramatic decline in mail, according to Marion.
Since 2006, the total amount of mail sent has declined 25%, said Marion. She said right now the financial situation is "urgent."
