Pocono News Section

Postal Workers Picket to Save Plant

Postal Workers Picket to Save Plant - Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 6:33PM EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY -- The U. S. Postal Service is facing some serious budget problems. It's cutting some post offices and looking to consolidate mail processing. One of the ideas includes consolidating Wilkes-Barre's plant with Scranton's.

Dozens of postal workers picketed Thursday. Ruth Twyman has worked for the postal service for 17 years.

"I was brought up here, we do a lot of business in Wilkes-Barre, so I don't want to move," said Twyman.

But she and up to 230 of her co-workers could be forced to move or be jobless if the U. S.P. S. consolidation plan comes to fruition. Mail would be processed in Scranton instead and be delayed by a day.

"They're faced with a reduced service of mail," said John Kishel, with the Postal Workers Union. "We have to stop it. We need the citizens, businesses, and customers to support us. We can't do this by ourselves."

That's why they're asking people to sign a petition to keep the plant on South Main Street in full force. So far, they have more than 5,000 signatures, and they're hoping to double that number.

"If you can get 10,000 signatures, that means people are very concerned, and that shows us that we have the support," added Kishel.

"This is a good job, these people raise families here, and they support the community," said Matt Redick of Hanover Township. "So, it's a bad thing if they lose their jobs here."

Union representatives say they'll continue picketing as the feasability study continues. Then a public hearing will be held before the U. S.P. S. makes its final decision.