Postal workers rallied in downtown Portland Wednesday, saying the public isn't getting the truth when it comes to its financial woes.
The group met at Pioneer Courthouse Square, symbolic they say, because up until 2005 there was a post office inside the courthouse.
Now gone, it's a symbol of what the postal service could become.
Letter carriers argue the postal service isn't broke, and the financial strain is coming from a 2006 bill where congress mandated a ten year pre-paid pension plan that covers current and future employees.
Workers initially supported the bill, but that was before the recession. At that time they could afford the 5.5 billion dollar payments.
Now, they can't make the yearly bill and ran up their debit limit, bleeding red.
Amid talk of reducing and cutting service, local letter carriers say six day a week service is still a viable business plan.
“People should understand that the postal service still makes a net profit," said state Letter Carrier Association President Kevin Card. "And if it wasn't for this pre-funding mandate for health care for people who haven't even been born yet, we'd be in the black right now."
"Two independent studies show the retirement program was over-funded by 50-75 billion dollars," Card added.
Coupled with Congress putting the brakes on pension payments could have an immediate effect on postal services. In fact, Card said, a plan doing so has already been introduced. H-R 1351 is making its way through Congress now.
What about the future of the post office?
Card said there will be one--more necessary than ever before--as online shopping continues to grow.
The future, Card believes, will be your letter carrier doing a credit card transaction right there at your front door.
