Georgia Congressman tours Macon USPS office after complaints

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) -- Congressman Sanford D.

Bishop visited U.S. Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center in Macon, to meet with management and tour the facility after complaints from residents.

Joining us for 41nbc news at 6 i'm tucker sargent.

Shelby coates will join us shortly.

Our top story tonight at 6: congressman sanford bishop visited macon's u.s. postal service processing and distribution center to meet with management and tour the facility, after complaints from middle georgia residents.

According to bishop, delays of service and removal of postal service equipment have been the top complaints.

41nbc jatrissa wooten has more.

U.s. representative for georgia's 2nd congressional district--sanford d bishop, met with management of the u.s. postal service processing and distribution center on college street--thursday.

"i felt it was appropriate and my obligation to come and see exactly what the situation is" bishop says with the pandemic happening-- the postal service needs to be properly staffed to avoid delays.

He feels they should hire their seasonal staff earlier than november.

"so that it can be process timely and people can receive their life saving medications they can have their business taken care of without incurring late fees.

Bishop also says, with elections also in november, the postal service must be equipped to handle the surge of mail in ballots..

According to the congressman-- one way to do that--keep the blue postal boxes accessible to the public.

Bishop: "we dont want to see the blue boxes moved.

And those that were moved between july and now we would like to see them put back in place blue box: and they can know their ballots will be delivered to election officials on time" grace: "its convenient to drive by and drop it in the box but guess what if the box isnt there youre force to park and go inside."

Branch president for the national postal mailhandlers union, carlos castellucci, says as a postal service worker, his concerns are the pre-funding for healthcare for retirees.

He says they're the only agency that has to pay 100%.

"almost a 6 billion dollar payment that the post office has to make and that has been putting us in the red every year" since 2004 -- castellucci says congress should take a look at the "postal reorganization act" signed in the 1970's which says the postal service should act as a business.

He says the postal service is not a business.

"we are a service, we are called the postal service, so therefore we need to be acting like a service" the president of the union says the postal service should bring back overtime hours, because there aren't enough workers, and c1 3 b13 adds, some departments need equipment.

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