TYLER (KYTX) - They are worried about their jobs, and they want congress to do something about it. Postal workers concerned over planned drastic cuts that could include a Smith County mail distribution center, rallied outside Congressman Louie Gohmert's office in Tyler Tuesday afternoon.
Holding signs they chanted, "We don't want a bail out, we just want to get the mail out."
They are concerned about planned postal cuts, including ending Saturday delivery, eliminating mail processing centers and closing thousands of local post offices.
The postal facility on FM 3311, near I-20 in Smith County, is one of the facilities that could be subject to "possible closure or consolidation." That facility employs 254 people.
To keep these closures from happening the workers, are urging legislators to support a measure now in congress that would allow the postal service to work around its financial problems. They said those problems were caused by a congressional mandate in 2006 that required them to pre-fund retirement accounts to the tune of $5.5 billion a year.
"We are funding retirements for postal workers who haven't even been born yet," postal worker Laura Malgaris said.
She said a measure on the floor called House Bill 1531 will help reverse some of that, and they want Gohmert's support.
"If this bill is not passed and they go forward with closures and everything that will result in 70,000 jobs right there added to the unemployment line.'
So far, their are 216 co-sponsors to the bill.
Postal workers said they want set the record straight and that the postal service is not supported by tax payer dollars, but by stamps and services they provide.
Congressman Gohmert could not be reached for comment.
