Dozens Of Tulsa Postal Workers Rally To Save Their Jobs

Tara Vreeland, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- Dozens of postal employees rallied Tuesday in front of Congressman John Sullivan's office.

They're trying to stop the closure of the Tulsa mail processing center, which could eliminate hundreds jobs in the area.

9/16/2011 Related Story: Closure Of Tulsa Postal Center Would Mean Loss Of 500 Jobs

More than 90 post offices in Oklahoma are in danger of closing. But Postal employees say business is still steady, and people will always need their post offices.

"This is America's service. It's not just about a Union or about postal jobs, this is about the oldest federal service in the country," said Marsha Harris, Postal Service Employee.

"Save your service." That's the message dozens of postal employees wanted to drive home as they rallied outside Congressman John Sullivan's office.

"Whether they actually mail letters or pay bills online, we're still an integral part of the communications process in the United States," said, rally organizer, Cynthia McNeilance of Save America's Postal Service.

The postal service is looking to save money, about $20 billion by 2015. That puts hundreds of plants and post offices in jeopardy. But employees and union members say... not so fast.

"They are making devastating changes to the postal service that's going to affect everybody," Harris said.

McNeilance says if the Tulsa plant closes, mail delivery will be slower.

"If it closes, the mail will be trucked to Oklahoma City and come back here for delivery. Which means you won't get your mail next day if you mail it to your next door neighbor," she said.

And 500 people could lose their jobs.

"The postal service does more than just deliver mail. We look out for citizens. Carriers monitor the neighborhoods. We like to think we give back and take care of our people. We just want the opportunity to continue doing so," McNeilance said.

More than 4,000 people signed a petition urging Sullivan to pass House Resolution 1351. The bill would re-direct billions of dollars to keep the Post Office running as usual. Congressman Sullivan was not there.

McNeilance says delivering the petition went as she expected, with no commitment. But she hopes to meet with him soon.