Postal workers are gathering Downtown to protest a proposal to remove Saturday delivery

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Almost 3,000 United States Postal Service employees are protesting in Downtown Detroit against a proposal to eliminate Saturday delivery.

The government says the Post Office is $7 billion in debt for this year. They believe that by eliminating Saturday delivery the USPS could save between $2 and $3.5 billion a year. However, postal workers say they believe those numbers are inflated.

They say that by eliminating 15% of their work, 15% of their jobs could also be eliminated. They also say that while they are concerned about jobs, they're also worried about their customers.

One postal worker told Action News reporter Mary Conway "our jobs are at stake, but it effects all. We are the only service that delivers to every house in the United States. and it effect the rural communites, it effects the elderly, they look forward to getting their mail.

Another worker said "it's a government service. It's not supposed to make a profit, it's supposed to provide a service, that's the bottom line."

Today's protest march goes from Cobo Center to Campus Martius Park.