Letter Carriers Rally Against Downsizing Legislation
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Letter carriers in Chicago made a plea Friday to federal lawmakers to kill legislation that would significantly downsize the U.S. Postal Service.
Veronica Jullian has been a letter carrier in Des Plaines for 17 years. She says if Senate Bill 1789 passes, it will mean less service and thousands of layoffs.
"This rally is about saving the postal service. They are trying to take us to five-day delivery, they are trying to put mailboxes on the corner within the next five years," she said.
LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Lisa Fielding Reports
Podcast
The bill also calls for the elimination of door-to-door delivery.
Dozens of letter carriers rallied outside the Federal Building in Chicago to oppose the legislation. They said if passed, it could destroy the postal service.
"It would be a disaster and it would be 80,000 jobs lost," letter carrier Antoine Thigpen said.
More than 200 post office facilities are designated to close or consolidate, including 14 here in Chicago.
Lawmakers say the plan could save up to $20 billion by 2015.
Over the last several years, the postal service has been forced to pay $5.5 billion annually to cover future retiree health benefits.
