SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Letter carriers across the US were pounding the pavement in protest of a Senate bill, they feel will "dismantle" the postal service.
On a typical Thursday afternoon, Lorraine Quinn is going door-to-door, delivering mail to the about 650 homes on her route.
This Thursday though, Quinn and members of her labor union, the National Association of Letter Carriers, were in front of Sioux City's Federal Building, fighting US Senate Bill 1789.
"I was making sure I was off on time, so I wouldn't miss this. I think it's pretty important," she said.
Why is it worth fighting? Well, the group says it could cut tens of thousands of postal positions, do away with Saturday service, and "phase out" door-to-door delivery.
"This will affect everybody, residential and businesses alike. It's going to affect your mail," said Kevin Pettit, organizer of Sioux City's rally, NALC member, and postal employee.
The bill was introduced to help save the USPS money. Pettit, says it goes too far, and doesn't address the postal service's real problem of high annual payments to future retiree health benefits.
"We spend $5.5 billion to "pre-fund." Well, if we stop "pre-funding" we're actually making money. That's what we're saying 'let's get a bill out there to solve the problem'," he said.
It's a simple message to the Senate, which postal employees like Quinn are happy to deliver.
"We would like them to vote 'no' on 1789," said Quinn
The rally lasted for about an hour. The group expects the bill to be debated next week, when the Senate resumes from Easter break.
