Al Ferranto's election by acclamation to a second term as Director of Safety and Health allows him to continue his commitment to letter carriers' welfare and the strengthening of the NALC to protect members rights' and well-being.

Ferranto, 55, has nearly 30 years of union leadership experience, including service as president of three New Jersey branches: Westwood Branch 2032 from 1974 to 1975, Woodcliff Lake Branch 991 from 1978 to 1982 and the giant New Jersey Merged Branch 38 from 1983 to 1994.

A part-time Regional Administrative Assistant for the New York Metro Region from 1979 to 1984, Ferranto concurrently served on the executive board of the New Jersey State Association. He also was an elected NALC delegate to the AFL-CIO conventions from 1986 to 1994.

Ferranto served as a member of the national Board of Trustees in 1994, and was elected national business agent for New York Metro Region 15 at that year's Atlantic City convention. He served one term in that post before stepping up to director of safety and health.

Looking ahead, he said, "My top priority remains the same: To do everything I can to enhance the NALC in representing its members at all levels, while at the same time ensuring that the USPS remain the number one mail service in the world."

Ferranto and his wife, Joyce, maintain a home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he is able to pursue his major "outside interest," Civil War history and re-enactment. "If anyone wants to tour the battlefield or just talk about it, give me a call," he says.