Page 13 - Work Force July-August 2025

CSEA Long Island Region members
and guests met at Calverton
National Cemetery to honor
members of the U.S. military who
gave their lives while in service
at the CSEA Long Island Region’s
Annual Memorial Day Ceremony.
This year’s ceremony was held at
the grave of James A. Cunningham
Jr., the grandfather of CSEA member
Peter Starken, who was accompanied
by members of his family.
During the ceremony, there were
readings about fallen soldiers as
well as kind words spoken about
Cunningham.
— Wendi Bowie
CSEA members
remember and honor
on Memorial Day
14 The Work Force July-August 2025
From left, Frank Ellis, Michelle Ellis, Valerie Starken, Suffolk Educational
Employees Local member Peter Starken and Christina Starken honor
James A. Cunningham Jr., Peter Starken’s grandfather.
Peter Starken honors his grandfather, James A. Cunningham Jr.,
as Long Island Judiciary Local activist Darlene Devlin and Long
Island Region Recording Secretary Larry Germano look on.
Suffolk Educational
Employees Local
member Debra
Mann honors
those who died in
uniform.
Long Island
Region Recording
Secretary Larry
Germano reads a
passage during the
ceremony.
Cottrell is May PEOPLE recruiter of the month
SYRACUSE —
Ali Cottrell of the
SUNY Upstate
Medical Hospital
Local in the
Central Region
is the PEOPLE
Recruiter of the
Month for May,
recruiting 23
new PEOPLE
members.
“Without the PEOPLE program,
we wouldn’t have the ability to
fight back at the federal level
against devastating cuts in the
budget,” said Cottrell. “Signing up
for PEOPLE is the easiest way to
become an activist.”
CSEA’s PEOPLE program
protects and improves our
jobs, benefits, and pensions
in Washington, Albany, and in
your community. Your support
and participation in PEOPLE
strengthens CSEA’s clout in the
workplace, in the legislature, in
your community and in the labor
movement.
— Nicholas Newcomb
Cottrell
When we stand together as one union, we
can all ensure that workplace safety and
health remains a priority.
@CSEA_Safety_Net
facebook.com/CSEASafetyNet
cseany.org/safety
The Safety Net is a monthly
e-newsletter published by our Occupational Safety and Health
Department.
Subscribe at cseany.org/safetynet
Suffolk Area Retirees Local member
George Dobler honors those who
died in service.