Letter carriers worry they could lose jobs

News that the postal service plans to trim its delivery to five days a week has letter carriers more worried they may lose their jobs.

Ending Saturday delivery service is expected to save the U.S. Postal Service about $2 billion. But in Minnesota and surrounding states, it may cost thousands of jobs.

"It's more than just the 36,000 letter carriers that may lose their jobs. It's the guy at the printing press, the guy at the paper mill... the gal that's working reception at the data processing center for address management systems," said Jason Karnopp, an assistant business agent with the National Association of Letter Carriers regional office, based in Minneapolis. His union estimates thousands of carriers — as many as one out of six — might lose their jobs nationally.

Union representatives say there are about 4,000 full- and part-time letter carriers in Minnesota. Karnopp said the economic effects will ripple beyond the postal service if advertisers lose their Saturday access to customers.

"It's more than just about us. It's about a lot of people that could be affected." he said.