Postal workers rally during "day of action"
Posted: 09.27.2011 at 7:47 AM
Post Office employees protest a bill passed 5 years ago at Vicky Hartzler's Jefferson City office on Tuesday. Employees say if that bill were repealed, the USPS wouldn't be having money flow problems.  / Daniel Winn
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The United States Postal Service is facing a more than $9 billion deficit this fiscal year.

The service has talked about job cuts, closing post offices and eliminating Saturday delivery as ways to balance the deficit.

Tuedsay, postal workers around the nation are rallying as part of  a"Day of Action to Save America's Postal Service."

One issue: The postal service has to pay more than $5 billion to pre-fund retirement benefits.

A payment is due Friday, but postal workers are rallying in support of legislation that would let the service use money to meet other expenses.

Locally, postal workers said they'll be rallying in front of Representative Vicky Hartzler's Jefferson City office and Blaine Leutkemeyer's Columbia office Tuesday afternoon starting at 4:00.