Manuel L. Peralta Jr. was elected the National Association of Letter Carriers’ director of safety and health in July 2010 by the 67th Biennial Convention in Anaheim.

Manny, as he is know to his friends, didn’t waste any time becoming active in the NALC. He started his career in October 1979 at Brookhurst Station in Anaheim and became a shop steward shortly after his probation ended. He served Garden Grove, California Branch 1100 as an equal employment opportunity representative, as a member of the branch’s executive council, and then six years as a full-time officer, first as vice president and later as executive vice president.

In December 1990, NALC President Vince Sombrotto appointed him as a regional administrative assistant for San Francisco Region 1. In 2006, he was elected Region 1 national business agent by acclamation at the Las Vegas National Convention.

As Director of Safety and Health, Peralta works closely with NALC leaders and key Postal Service managers to assure a safe work environment with both through contract enforcement and with the development of new safety programs and the application of best practices nationwide. His responsibilities also include guarding against biohazards, both in the mail and in the workplace.

“In my life and career, I have been blessed with encouragement and opportunity,” he said. “My first union mentor, a truck driver named Jim Linton, preached about the need for and the value of unions, and the good they offer to society to this day.”

Peralta says he was “guided and inspired” to become a shop steward by Tom Young and Brian Farris, both of whom served as national business agents in Region 1.

He follows in their footsteps with great pride. “They taught me that our role as union leaders is to always teach, inspire and guide the youth of our union,” he said, “never holding back what we know and always guiding them toward success.”

“It is becoming more difficult each day to find activists with the time and energy to make the sacrifices necessary to serve this union,” he noted. “That is our challenge and we must all meet it.

"I would not have been able to devote the required attention to this union without the strength that my family gives me," Peralta said. "I thank my children for the many sacrifices that they have made during more than 30 years of representing letter carriers. I especially thank my wife, Gina, who has sacrificed more than anyone. She has supported our union and its demands for our whole career. I also owe her greatly for her patience, her understanding and her love."

Manny and his wife, Gina, have been married for over 34 years and have two adult children.