From left to right, Statewide PEOPLE Committee Chair Karen Bright, PEOPLE Recruiter of the Year Ali Cottrell and CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan celebrate Cottrell’s award.
BUFFALO — Ali Cottrell, president of the SUNY Upstate Medical University Local in the Central Region, was honored as the PEOPLE Recruiter of the Year.
Cottrell, who serves as the SUNY Upstate Medical Local President, recruited 201 new PEOPLE members. He received the award at 113th Annual Delegates Meeting in Buffalo.
He is not slowing his efforts down. Cottrell was also named the September Recruiter of the Month, recruiting 28 new PEOPLE members
“I appreciate the award and being recognized, but that’s not what it’s all about,” said Cottrell. “This is about educating fellow members in the hopes they’ll go out and teach others about the importance of the program.”
CSEA’s PEOPLE program protects and improves our jobs, benefits, and pensions in Washington, Albany, and in your community. Union dues cannot be used in any federal campaign, so all federal campaigns are funded by voluntary contributions through the program.
“The PEOPLE program helps give teeth to our bite when we have to lobby on a federal level,” said Cottrell. “Without this program, we wouldn’t have the resources to make a legislative difference to make positive change for public employees.”
Support and participation in the PEOPLE program help strengthen CSEA’s clout in the workplace, the legislature, and across the labor movement.
“One of the most important things you can do after signing your CSEA membership card is signing up for the PEOPLE program,” said Cottrell. “Ask your local or unit officers how to get involved or visit the PEOPLE table at any of our conferences to learn how to become a PEOPLE recruiter.”
For more information on our union’s PEOPLE program, visit cseany.org/people.
— Nicholas Newcomb
