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CNN Live Saturday

Postal Workers Threaten to File Lawsuit in New York

Aired October 27, 2001 - 15:08   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: As the anthrax investigation widens, anger is growing among some postal workers, who believe that they deserve better care. And now, they are threatening lawsuits in New York. Let's go to CNN's Jason Carroll. He is in New York with the very latest -- good afternoon, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good afternoon to you.

The message from the Postal Union is very clear. They say if you do not shut down this facility, while the environmental clean up is going on, we're going to sue. The Morgan processing center is the largest mail distribution center in the city of New York. Health officials found anthrax on four mail sorting machines on the third floor. Those machines are being cleaned, they are being sterilized, and they will be retested before they are put back into service.

At least two anthrax-laced letters, one sent to NBC and one sent to the "New York Post," passed through New York City's mail system. As a precaution, postal workers here in the city, some 7,000 postal workers, received Cipro. Again, once again, just as a precaution. The Postal Service says that it is safe for the workers to be here during this environmental clean up, but the Postal Union says, we don't buy it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can take precautions, you know, to me. I mean, it's as safe as I feel in the subways, touching the poles, you know, whatever. Or you see somebody and you shake their hand, you don't know. I mean, you feel just as safe as anywhere else. And just take precautions. Life has got to go on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) it's as simple as that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why would they give us the medication before we are tested. What? To cover their tracks? When -- so when they do get around to testing us, we have taken the medication. They're not going to find a trace of anything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Again, you had an opportunity there to hear from some of the postal workers who showed up for work today. The Postal Union was actually encouraging their workers not to show up for work. The Postal Service says that anyone who had any sort of concerns about showing up here for work has the option of going to any of the five other postal facilities here in the city of New York, and they could go to work there instead.

Some 60 workers have been tested here as a precaution, and we are still waiting for the test results to come back -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Jason, that's what I was going to ask you, is if they were given any options if they are fearful of going back to work. And, indeed, you say they are.

CARROLL: Absolutely. Once again, there are five other postal facilities here in New York City. And while this environmental testing is going on, the Postal Service says that anyone who works here at this facility is more than welcome to show up for work at any of the other five facilities while the environmental testing is going on.

And also, another note, Catherine, I did ask when they expected this environmental testing to be complete. And still no word on that either.

CALLAWAY: All right. And what about from the union, what are they saying about some of the criticism they are receiving about the timing of this lawsuit in the middle of this drama?

CARROLL: Well, the postal official that we've been dealing with, William Smith, is a pretty vocal union leader, and he's not concerned about any criticism. What he's concerned about, he says, is representing the workers here at this facility. And they're not worried about criticism, they're worried about safety. And what they want to see is they want to see this facility shut down, while the environmental testing is being completed -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: All right. CNN's Jason Carroll, live in New York -- thank you.

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