Postal workers rallied on Tuesday in every congressional district across the country to explain how our elected officials on Capitol Hill can save America's Postal Service.
Members of several local postal unions gathered in front of Congressman Tim Ryan's downtown Youngstown office on Federal Street. Union leaders said a bill Congress passed in 2006 requires the Postal Service to pre-fund health care for future retirees.
That costs the U.S. Postal Service more than $5 billion a year to pay 75 years of benefits in a 10-year window.
"It wasn't until the economy tanked that the challenge of pre-funding, which was brought on by the legislative stroke of the pen, is what really crippled the post office," said Dominic Corso, president of Youngstown Postal Workers Local 443.
"They want us to pay retirement health benefits for people who are not born yet. It's crazy," said Michelle Archuleta, a member of New Castle APW Local 227.
A representative from Ryan's office assured the crowd that Ryan is on their side and he fully supports House Bill 1351, which would relax those Congressional mandates placed on the Postal Service.
Plans are in the works to close several post offices, cut Saturday delivery, and send mail processing jobs and facilities from Youngstown and New Castle to Pittsburgh.
