Wisconsin postal workers rally to keep Saturday delivery

Several hundred postal workers rallied in Madison on Sunday. Some held signs and waved at passing cars as they spoke out against the recent decision to eliminate service on Saturdays.

The rally is just a small part of the Nationwide Day of Action organized by postal workers. Many argue that eliminating 6-day delivery won't only layoff thousands of workers, but will greatly impact the American public.

In the Madison area more than 400 carriers deliver mail. Union leaders say upwards of 70 employees might be let go if this decision holds. The decision stems from the budget problems the postal service has been facing in recent years. Congressman Mark Pocan, who spoke at Sunday's rally, says cutting delivery days is not the answer.

"Too many families rely on 6-day delivery to keep up with their finances, to get their important mail delivery. Too many small business owners count on the United States Postal Service to deliver packages in the mail," Pocan says.

Pocan and other Democrats are trying to push a bill through Congress titled HR-630 or the Postal Service Protection Act of 2013. The bill would keep Saturday delivery and would provide alternatives to cutting the budget for the Postal Service.

The Postmaster General says eliminating Saturday delivery would save more than $2 billion a year. Postal workers at the rally say that number is exaggerated because it doesn't take into consideration the lost revenue from businesses who'll decide to use private shipping companies over the postal service

Many workers feel Saturday delivery is the only thing that is keeping them competitive in the shipping marketplace.