News & information
NALC is deeply saddened to learn that 82-year-old newly retired letter carrier Anthony Puccio, a member of Branch 36 in New York City, passed away on Thursday, January 14th. Brother Puccio began his remarkable 62-year career with the Postal Service in December 1958, only recently retiring on December 31, 2020.
Brother Puccio served the same route — a nine-building housing development in East Harlem — for his entire career. As a participant in the Great Postal Strike of 1970, his actions and those of his fellow strikers led to the Postal Reorganization Act – winning collective-bargaining rights for nearly 700,000 postal employees and modernizing the Postal Service. Anthony’s account of the famous act was memorialized and made a big part of NALC’s video “The Strike at 40”.
As a well-deserved tribute and honor to his dedication, service and mentorship to new letter carriers, the Postal Service plans to re-name its carrier academy in New York City as “The Anthony Puccio Carrier Academy”.
"Our entire NALC membership grieves the loss of Brother Puccio," NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "All letter carriers owe a huge debt of gratitude to Anthony and his fellow brave brothers and sisters who risked their jobs during the strike to make a stand for fair pay and union rights. Our sincere condolences and heartfelt prayers go out to his family, friends, co-workers and loved ones.”