Page 2 - Work Force July-August 2025

2 The Work Force July-August 2025
Capital Region officers welcome members to the Malta Drive-In Movie
Night Member Appreciation event. From left, Capital Region Treasurer
Katie Soule, 2nd Vice President Marla Norton, Region President Shana
Davis, Executive Vice President Cindy Stiles and 1st Vice President Susan
Watson-Amos. See pages 10-12 for more Member Appreciation Month
events. (Photo by Therese Assalian.)
PITTSTOWN — CSEA is mourning
the loss of Capital Region member
Robert Bornt, 54, who died May
30 following injuries sustained in a
worksite incident a day earlier.
Bornt, a highway maintenance
supervisor and president of CSEA’s
Rensselaer County Unit, Department
of Transportation (DOT) Residency
was in a work zone on State Route
7 in Pittstown when he was struck
by a vehicle. Bornt sustained severe
injuries and was airlifted to Albany
Medical Center, where he died the
next day.
New York State Police and PESH
are investigating the incident.
Bornt was committed to his work,
family and serving his community
from union officer to Fire Chief in his
hometown, Hoosick Falls. He was a
volunteer member of the Town of
Hoosick Rescue Squad and a softball
coach who enjoyed hunting and
snowmobiling.
News of Bornt’s death prompted
an outpouring of condolences and
renewed calls for increased work
zone safety and public awareness.
“On behalf of CSEA, my heart
goes out to Robert’s family, loved
ones and co-workers,” said CSEA
President Mary E. Sullivan. “Our
union members work on the roads
to serve the public, not to put their
lives on the line because of careless
or reckless drivers. Robert Bornt’s
death is a painful reminder that work
zones are not just construction sites,
they are workplaces. When drivers
are less aware, they endanger real
people with families.”
CSEA Capital Region President
Shana Davis met with unit members
in early June to offer support.
“An overwhelming sense of sorrow
has enveloped the community of
DOT Local 676, Unit 068331. The
tragic loss of Unit President Robert
Bornt has brought unimaginable
DOT Unit
President
Robert Bornt
Photo of the Month
grief, not only to our union, but
their entire community,” said Davis.
“Robert’s passing has left a void
that words cannot begin to fill.
Every worker goes to work with the
expectation of returning home safely
to their family. There are no words
that can truly express the depth of
collective heartbreak I experienced
when visiting the members of Unit
068331. Robert’s loss is deeply felt
by all who know him, worked beside
him both as a Supervisor and Unit
President.”
Davis noted that especially in
light of workplace deaths, our union
family stands strpng together.
“In times like these, we are
reminded that our union is far more
than an organization. We are a family
bound by solidarity, compassion,
and shared purpos,” said Davis. “We
are deeply saddened when tragedies
such as this occur. Our strength as a
union lies in the ties that bind us, not
only as activists but as union family.
When one suffers, we all suffer.
Together, we mourn, together we
honor Robert’s memory and stand in
support of all impacted.”
Bornt is survived by his wife,
children, grandson, mother, sister
and extended family. Services,
including the Firemen’s Last Call
Service, were held on June 7.
— Therese Assalian
Bornt
HORNELL — Our union is continuing
to push for improved safety in and
around highway work zones after
three CSEA members employed
by the state Department of
Transportation were recently injured
after being struck by a vehicle while
working in a marked work zone on
Route 36 in Hornell.
While one member was injured
seriously, all three have since been
released from the hospital.
“On behalf of every CSEA member,
my heart is with the three New
York State DOT employees hurt
in the Route 36 work zone crash
in Hornell,” said Western Region
President Steve Healy. “No one
should have to fear for their life
while simply doing their jobs. We
again urge every driver to slow down
and move over and pay attention.”
The incident happened shortly
after CSEA DOT Unit President
Robert Bornt was killed in a similar
work zone crash. (See this page.)
“These tragedies are happening
far too often, and they must
stop!” said CSEA President Mary
E. Sullivan. “We are demanding
immediate action, including stronger
enforcement and better protections
for highway workers before another
life is lost.”
CSEA successfully lobbied for
expansion of the state’s work
zone speed camera program, but
our union is continuing to fight to
increase penalties for speeding in
a work zone and for failing to move
over when legally required.
“This legislation is a top priority
for me and all CSEA members,”
said Sullivan. “We’re fighting to
impose tougher penalties on those
who ignore work zones and show
disregard for the people working
in them. We’ve had enough. We
need stronger laws and more
accountability now.”
Our union’s efforts helped
ensure this legislation was passed
in the NYS Senate. Unfortunately,
the NYS Assembly failed to pass
this legislation before concluding
session. CSEA will continue to lobby
the legislature as safety of our
members is a top priority.
CSEA continues fight for work
zone safety