Union to sue post office

Associated Press

NEW YORK — A postal workers union said Friday that it will sue the U.S. Postal Service to shut down a huge Manhattan mail processing plant where four machines have been contaminated with anthrax.

"Close the facility, test the people, clean it up and send people back when it’s safe," said Louis Nikolaidis, attorney for the New York chapter of the American Postal Workers Union.

He said he has notified the Postmaster General’s Office of the intent to sue and would take the case to federal court if the Morgan Processing and Distribution Center remains open to its 5,000 employees.

The nation’s anthrax outbreak has killed three people since Oct. 5, including two Washington, D.C., postal workers this week. Nikolaidis said the lawsuit would be based on federal law governing transportation of hazardous materials.

"It’s time for the Postal Service to start putting workers first," union local president William Smith said. "They want the workers of New York metro to be guinea pigs, and I’m not going to stand for that foolishness."

The Postal Service, citing the advice of health officials, has said there is no need to close the plant, which handles all mail for Manhattan and the Bronx — about 20 million pieces a day. Spokesman Dan Quinn said he could not comment on the lawsuit.

At the Maryland funeral for one of the Washington anthrax victims, the union’s president-elect, William Burrus, told the postmaster general that postal workers would not work inside any contaminated facility.

"I’m not placing blame, but we don’t want to make that mistake again," he said.

The postal workers’ union and the National Association of Letter Carriers represent some 600,000 employees who process and deliver mail across the country.

The Postal Service disclosed the anthrax contamination at the Morgan facility Thursday. The four machines may have been tainted by anthrax-laced letters sent to NBC and the New York Post from Trenton, N.J., but no source has been determined.

Copyright ©2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

A view of a homes in Edmonds, Washington on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County to mail property tax statements this month

First half payments are due on April 30.

Ticket and ORCA card kiosks at the Lynnwood Light Rail station on Thursday, April 4, 2024 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Beginning March 1, Community Transit to reduce some fares

Riders eligible for reduced fares will pay $1 for a single ORCA card tap and $36 for a monthly pass.

The amphitheater at Deception Pass during the 2021 concert series. (Photo provided by Deception Pass Park Foundation Facebook page.)
Deception Pass Foundation seeks Adopt-A-Trail volunteers

If you’re looking for a way to get outside and… Continue reading

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

A pedestrian is struck and killed by vehicle Wednesday in Everett

The pedestrian was a man in his 60s. The collision happened at 5:30 a.m. on Broadway.

Want coffee? Drink some with the Marysville mayor.

A casual question-and-answer session between mayor and constituents is planned for March 24.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.