Postal workers around US to rally at Congressional district offices

PHOENIX - Thousands of postal workers, including here in Arizona, will hit the streets for what they call a national day of action.

On Tuesday, between 4 and 5:30 p.m., workers will rally outside the offices of each of the 435 members of the House of Representatives.

They're hoping to get support for H.R. 1351, a piece of legislation all four postal labor unions are supporting because they feel it would prevent the financial collapse of the Postal Service and restore financial stability to the organization.

If passed into law, the bill would audit a Congressional mandate that forces the Postal Service prefund future retirees health benefits to the tune of $5.5 billion, said Jim Pavoggi, business agent for the American Postal Workers Union.

Two independent audits have already been performed which show the retiree health benefits has already been over funded, Pavoggi said.

That's what causing the post office financial troubles, he added.

"It's not the Internet or the recession," he said.

The postal unions also want to build opposition to H.R. 2309, a bill they argue does not solve the current financial difficulties the Postal Service is facing.

"It would drastically reduce service to the American people, and it would nullify existing worker contracts if the Postal Service was to default on any obligation to the federal government," a release said. "The bill would also strip away some collective bargaining rights from postal workers."