Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
They say they want a fair shake. Adequate compensation for a tough job that's getting tougher all the time.
And, to take their case to the people, the local mail carriers at the Warsaw Post Office took to the streets Wednesday, when they picketed in front of the post office at Market and Columbia streets.
"We haven't received a raise in 18 months and the last raise we got was 2 percent spread over our last four-year contract," said postal worker and president of the local National Association of Letter Carriers Mark Shirey, who organized the picketing.
"We can't go on strike because we all had to sign a contract when we starting working here that we wouldn't go out on strike. So, we're picketing out here on our own time," he added.
Roger Gaff, a letter carrier for 26 years, said he and his colleagues have helped make the postal service the largest and most efficient in the world - it is estimated to deliver 41 percent of the world's mail. Because of that, they deserve to share in some of the profits the postal service has earned, he said.
"We have helped them earn $5 billion in profits over the last four years, and they have raised the postage rate and given the managers bonuses. I think it's time to give us the pay raise we have earned and deserve," Gaff said.
"We're not radical - we just want a fair deal," he added.
Shirey said the carriers have been working without a contract since last November. The two sides are now in binding arbitration. Shirey said the union is seeking a new four-year contract containing annual wage and cost-of-living increases.
Warsaw Postmaster John Rupe was unavailable today for comment.
