Rep. Peters Pledges Support for Postal Employees

Congressman Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Hills) on Tuesday pledged his support to U.S. Postal Service employees as nearly 100 letter carriers, mail handlers and postal workers gathered outside his office in Troy to rally for federal legislation they say would prevent a collapse of the postal service.

"We need to make sure we have a strong postal service," Peters told the crowd. "You can make sure I will be there with you."

Postal employees and others gathered about 4 p.m. on the lawn and sidewalk outside Peters' office to stage the rally. Those in attendance carried signs and chanted for about a half hour before four guest speakers addressed the crowd.

"Tell the Hill to pass the bill," Royal Oak letter carrier John Dick shouted into a megaphone while dozens of people marched with picket signs. "We don't want a bail out, we just want to get the mail out!"

Dick said four postal unions came together Tuesday for a National Day of Action to support House Bill 1351, which proponents say would restructure the postal service's retiree health benefit fund, which currently requires employees to prefund the account.

“The public needs to know why the postal service is in a financial mess,” Dick said. “If it was not for the unprecedented pre-funding of the Retiree Health Benefit Fund, the postal service would have actually made a profit of $611 million over the last four years.”

At the crux of the issue is a 2006 federal mandate that requires the postal service to pre-fund future retiree benefits for the next 75 years, and do so within 10 years. Supporters of the proposed legislation say the bill would fix the pre-funding requirement.

Peters said passing the legislation is critical to the future of the postal service, as prefunding the benefits have put a strain on day-to-day operations.

"This would allow for day-to-day operations so we can continue to get the service we expect," Peters said. "And it will ensure the postal service has the financial strength to survive."

Saundra Williams, president of the Metro Detroit ALFCIO, told the crowd that failure to pass the legislation would hurt jobs throughout the country.

"People have to understand, it's not just about these workers. Other people have to get involved," Williams said. "If post offices are closed and people are laid off, we all lose."

– Judy Davids contributed to this report.