CSEA members across the state recently participated in Workers Memorial Day ceremonies to remember those who have passed away or became seriously injured while doing their jobs.
CSEA Long Island Region members joined their union family at the Long Island Federation of Labor’s Annual Workers’ Memorial Day Service.
During a candle lighting ceremony, the names of workers who lost their lives on the job were announced, along with shared anecdotes about the workers’ lives.
Long Island Region
President Jarvis
Brown prepares to
plant a flower at the
Workers’ Memorial.
Speakers discussed the importance of practicing proper safety precautions and urged workers to become more politically engaged to protect future workers from suffering the same fate as those who were being memorialized. The ceremony concluded with a memorial flower bed planting by the Workers’ Memorial Monument, which stands outside of the New York State offices in Hauppauge.
In the Western Region, a Workers Memorial Day ceremony was led by Rochester DOT Local President Brian Ossont. Western Region President Steve Healy spoke about the importance of remembering all the members we have lost, including Stephen Ebling, a New York State Thruway Authority Local member who was based in Western New York who died while doing his job alongside the highway in November 2024.
From left, Rochester Department of Transportation Local President Brian Ossont
and CSEA Western Region President Steve Healy greet one another.
“We must remember all the members we have lost over the year,” said Healy, “These are people who went to work, simply to do a job to make a living and paid the ultimate price.”
It was highlighted that safety for all workers is always top priority. “Our goal is to make sure everyone gets home safely, no matter where they work or what they do,” said Healy.
In addition to Healy, speakers included DOT Region 4 Director Chris Reeve, DOT Region 4 Director, DOT Region 4 Safety & Health Representative Cory Martindale, PEF Statewide Vice President Randi Diantonio and DOT Region 4 Director of Operations Scott Robinson.
— Wendi Bowie and Sara McNicholas
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- CSEA members from the Westchester County Unit and Westchester County Local joined with members of Maria Coto’s family to honor her life during the Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body’s annual Workers Memorial Vigil, held this year in Yonkers. Attendees wore buttons emblazoned with Maria’s photo. Attendees included a number of colleagues from the Department of Social Services.
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- Department of Transportation workers honor fallen workers at the site of the DOT memorial on the New York State Fairgrounds.
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- From left, CSEA Long Island Judiciary Local Vice President Darlene Devlin and Long Island Judiciary Local President Larry Germano listen to a retired union member and Korean War veteran speak about the importance of safety practices.
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- From left, PEF Health and Safety Director Geraldine Stella, CSEA Executive Vice President Richard Bebo and Capital Region President Shana Davis speak before the Albany Workers Memorial Day dedication.
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- CSEA Organizer Ursula Howard and CSEA Suffolk Area Retirees Local Treasurer Ruby Thomas stand for “The Star Spangled Banner.”
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- Activists from the Westchester County Local visit with Fine, Olin and Anderman managing partner Vincent Rossillo following the 2025 Workers Memorial Vigil sponsored by the Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body. Pictured, from left, are Westchester Medical Center Unit Secretary Ruben Bastille, Westchester County Local President Hattie Adams, Rossillo, Westchester County Unit activist Jorge Vargas, and City of White Plains Unit activist Martin Santangelo.
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- New York State Thruway Authority Local President Sean Kennedy urges motorists to use caution in work zones during remarks delivered during the Workers Memorial Day ceremony at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.
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- From left, New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon listen as PEF Health and Safety Director Geraldine Stella and CSEA Capital Region President Shana Davis read the names of fallen workers.
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- NYS Rochester DOT workers and their families join together for the Workers Memorial Day observance.
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- CSEA members attending the memorial service gather around the Long Island Workers’ Memorial. From left, CSEA/VOICE 100A Nassau Chapter Representative Janna Rodriguez, Suffolk Area Retirees Local Treasurer Ruby Thomas, Town of Oyster Bay Local 3rd Vice President Sherri Porter, Town of Oyster Bay Local 1st Vice President Gina Valli, Town of Oyster Bay Local Executive Vice President Thomas Robinson, CSEA Occupational Safety and Health Specialist Justin Gallo, Long Island Region President Jarvis Brown, Town of Oyster Bay Local President Guadalupe Johnson, Long Island Judiciary Local Vice President Darlene Devlin, Long Island Judiciary Local President Larry Germano, and CSEA Nassau Area Retirees Local Executive Vice President Stanley Bergman.
