Postal changes leave workers waiting

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - As of this week, outgoing mail from Vigo County will be sent to Indianapolis for processing.  The changes to the local facility may not be as drastic as closing the plant, but they've still made the jobs for a handful of workers difficult.

From the building's exterior, it appears nothing has changed to the Margaret Ave. Postal Processing Plant; however, the interior is very different for the night time workers.

"They clock in to work as normal and they have to step into what is called the stand-by operation and they sit in a room and wait for things to do,” Ann Barnes the local postal workers’ union president said.

For around ten workers, waiting is now the hardest part.

Now that Terre Haute doesn't process outgoing mail, several of their work hours are devoted to waiting for the incoming mail.

Ann Barnes has experienced this first hand, because she works not only as the local union president, she works along side the workers.

"They are just kinda going with the flow and doing the best they can.  They would like to do the work if they would just let us,” Barnes said.

As part of the union’s agreement with the United States Postal Service, there is a no lay-off clause for the workers.

So while consolidation happens, these workers are left without work, but still with a job.

It's something the postal service is trying to fix.

"They are trying to find some work for workers in Terre Haute; but right now, there's not a lot of full time jobs so this is the only option they have,” Barnes explained.

If you're scratching you're head trying to figure out how this plan saves money, your in the same position as Barnes.

"Our feeling is, they are increasing their costs by adding the extra trucks going back and forth to Indy and still having to pay the people here,” Barnes said.