Page 2 - Work_Force_February_2019

Photo of the Month
Carol Ann Zavarella-Vasta, WCC unit president, dies at 65
Vernice Laldee, an ENT licensed practical nurse at SUNY Downstate Medical Center who is shown here on the job, is the February featured image in our 2019 CSEA Calendar. There’s still time to get your calendar. Order your copy today by visiting the link in the ad below. (Photo by David Galarza)
“There are too many powerful forces at work trying to choke the labor movement. The cure for that is more union involvement. While I have a voice, I’ll always” speak out for my rights and those of my co-workers.
— Vernice Laldee, ENT Licensed Practical Nurse, SUNY Downstate
CSEA is mourning the loss of Westchester Community College Unit President Carol Ann Zavarella- Vasta,
65, who died unexpectedly Jan. 8.
Zavarella-Vasta was CSEA unit president at the college since 2014, stepping up after serving several years as vice president. She helped lead the unit through several
years of challenging negotiations, with an agreement finally being implemented once County Executive George Latimer took office in 2018, and just recently helped settle the unit’s newest contract.
In addition to serving as a unit officer, Zavarella-Vasta was a
delegate for both the Westchester County Local and the Westchester- Putnam Central Labor Body. She was a graduate of the CSEA Labor Education and Development (LEAD) program.
A CSEA member since 2001, Zavarella-Vasta worked as secretary to the dean of student life at the college. She was known for being a positive source of encouragement to the many students and staff members she encountered at the college.
Zavarella-Vasta is survived by her husband, Anthony Vasta; her sister and brother-in-law; three stepchildren; two grandchildren; and her niece and nephew. Visitation was held Jan. 14, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Jan. 15 at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church in Ossining.
— Jessica Ladlee
CSEA mourns loss of Western Region member Jeffrey Farrell
ROCHESTER — CSEA is mourning the death of Monroe County Unit member Jeffrey Farrell, 30, who died from injuries sustained in a workplace incident on January 18.
Farrell, who was employed at the county’s Pure Waters Division, was working below ground inside a sewer grate in Rochester when
a tractor trailer traveled down
an embankment after leaving an expressway and struck a light pole and two vehicles. Farrell was killed instantly as he tried to escape.
Local media reported that the driver of the tractor trailer also died at the scene and may have suffered a medical emergency shortly before the incident.
“We share our grief and sense
of loss with the entire community. Please keep the family, the co-workers, our dedicated CSEA members and all those who were impacted by this tragic event in our thoughts and prayers,” said CSEA Western Region President Kathy Button.
Our CSEA Occupational Safety and Health Department and the state Public Employees Safety and Health (PESH) Bureau is investigating the incident.
County officials had also directed flags to fly at half-staff in Farrell’s honor through January 24.
Farrell, who had started working for the county in September 2018, is survived by his parents, sisters and numerous extended family, including his dog. He also enjoyed playing hockey. Visitation hours were held January 23, and a funeral Mass was held January 24 at St. Helen’s Church in Rochester.
— Ove Overmyer
The 2019 calendar is here.
Order yours today!
cseany.org/calendar-form
2 The Work Force
February 2019
2019