Thursday, October 26, 5:29 p.m.
By Julie Sidoni

Neither rain, nor snow, nor gloom of night will keep postal carriers from their appointed rounds, or the picket line, for that matter.

Some U.S. Postal Service workers wanted to make a point Thursday. All across the country members of the American Postal Workers Union picketed outside certain post offices.

One of those sites was in Peckville, where picketers claim there are plans in the works to change postal service. They claim the post office is planning to consolidate services in Peckville with the post office in Jessup, a community just a mile or two away.

"We believe that will greatly reduce service that residents in Peckville currently receive and we think the people of Peckville should know that this effort is underway," said Fran Friel of the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union.

Baldo Pambianco said the picketers got his attention. He'd hate to see any postal services moved from Peckville.

"This way it's easier. I live right over there.  I walk right through my backyard and I'm here," Pambianco said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service said the picketers don't have it quite right.

Officials admit they are looking into consolidating Peckville and Jessup's carrier operation, but not the retail operation.  They said neither post office would close, no jobs would be lost and chances are, postal customers would never know the difference.

That is something the union workers aren't buying.

"We don't believe the post office would retain both.  They haven't in the past and although that's the contention, we don't believe that would be the case," Friel added.

A decision on whether to consolidate anything in the Mid-Valley is expected to be made by the end of November.