HPAE Local 5103 at American Red Cross

Who We Are
HPAE Local 5103 was organized in 1996 and we achieved our first contract with the Penn-Jersey Region of the American Red Cross in May 1997. We represent the following job titles at the Region's Donor Services Division:

• Collections: Donor Collections Assistant (DCA), Auditors, Pheresis DCAs
• Production Planning: Scheduling Specialists, Administrative Assistants, Position Control Coordinator
• Professional: Registered Nurses

Local Contract, Work Rules, and Incident Reporting Form Available on the Web
December 6, 2011

The recently-ratified contract, the work rules, and the Local 5103 Incident Reporting Form are available on the web. Go to "Local Member Resources" on this page and click on any of these documents.


Contract Settlement Unanimously Approved, New Three Year Contract In Effect
September 16, 2011

Local 5103 members voted unanimously to approve a contract settlement reached between the Local 5103 Negotiations Committee and the Penn-Jersey Region's management. The agreement includes wage increases and a bonus, an increase in the parking reimbursement, and protects the 8 hour guarantee.
Read the Agreement Summary
Read the Complete Memorandum of Agreement
Read the HPAE Press Release on the Contract Settlement


Sign the Petition for Red Cross Workers!
At Red Cross, more than 3,000 blood drive workers in 25 local unions are currently working without, or under expired contracts. Tell Red Cross to respect workers' rights and invest in safety.
Click Here to Sign the Petition!


Local 5103 Joins Philadelphia Labor Day Rally
September 9, 2011

With a September 16, 2011 strike deadline looming, Local 5103 members and HPAE staff participated in the annual Labor Day rally in Philadelphia.

Negotiations Update
September 2, 2011

After a long day at the Phillies Blood Drive on August 21st, Local 5103 members came out in full force and overwhelming voted to authorize the negotiating team to take action, up to and including a strike if necessary, to help reach a fair agreement.

On Sunday, August 28, 2011 because of technical and logistical problems caused by Hurricane Irene, the local had to cancel the August 29th negotiating date. Because of the limited negotiating dates remaining and the local's desire to reach a fair agreement with the Red Cross, we asked for and obtained a contract extension until September 15, 2011 at 11:59 p.m.

In order to meet our legal requirements, the local today sent the Red Cross, a Ten Day Strike notice that would go into effect on September 16, 2011 beginning at 12:01a.m. Your negotiating team will continue to bargain and do everything possible to reach a fair agreement. The following dates are scheduled for negotiations: September 7th, 9th and 15th. Stay tuned for updates and meeting notices.

Questions ? Please contact a member of the Negotiating Team or Jeff Hayden @ jhayden@hpae.org or (610) 348-9359


Plaque to Firefighters for Their Support to Local 5103
August 31, 2011

During our strike, Local 22 of the Firefighters Union allowed Local 5103 members to use their hall and facilities. As a token of our appreciation, Jerry Costello, Local 5103 Secretary/Treasurer, presented Tom McKiernan, Local 22's Treasurer, with a plaque.

Important Membership Meeting
August 15, 2011

We are urging all Local 5103 members to attend a membership meeting on Sunday, August, 21. At this meeting, we will be taking a vote to authorize the Negotiations Committee to call a strike if a contract settlement is not reached with ARC. Members can attend anytime between 2:00 and 8:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn @ The Stadium.

Meeting Announcement


Solidarity Picnic
August 9, 2011

On Sunday, August 7, union coalition partners from a Communications Workers of America (CWA) local in Johnstown, Pennsylvania came to meet with Local 5013 members to show support and solidarity for our national fight against the American Red Cross.

Letter of Support from Congressman Frank Pallone

Congressman Pallone sent a letter to the American Red Cross asking them respect the rights of the blood services staff and to bargain in good faith.
Click here to read the letter

Local Barbecue and Membership Meeting
July 29, 2011

On Sunday August 7, our coalition partners from other Red Cross local unions will join us for a day of family fun with a union BBQ and general membership meeting.

Get more information on the barbeque and meeting


Coalition of ARC Unions Begins Petition Campaign
July 18, 2011

While the Negotiations Committee continues to bargain with ARC management during the "cooling off" period, the local has stepped up the fight to achieve a good contract. Local 5103 is participating in the Coalition of Unions at Red Cross. The Coalition, which includes affiliates of ten national unions, has initiated a petition campaign among ARC workers to show support for a just contract that protects the rights and benefits of ARC workers.

ARC Worker Explains Why She is Proud to be a Member of Local 5103
June 16, 2011

Jackie Manual, a DCA, has written a letter about how the three week strike has given her a broader perspective on the struggle of all working people and why she feels so proud to be a member of Local 5103.
Read More


Local 5103 Members Vote to Accept 90 Day "Cooling Off" Period
June 15, 2011

After a three-week strike, Local 5103 members voted at a membership meeting today to a 90 day "cooling off" period and will return to work beginning Thursday, June 16, under an agreement with Red Cross that the 250 blood service workers will maintain their current contract terms and protections while negotiations resume.
Read More


Protest at ARC National Headquarters

HPAE Local 5103 protest at the American Red Cross Headquarters for worker safety, blood donor safety, and blood supply safety on June 6, 2011.

Jesse Jackson To Hold Rally In Camden: MyFoxPHILLY.com

Blood Drive Workers Face Cuts! Learn More
Download the Flyer

Members Get Ready for May 24 Strike Deadline
May 22, 2011

Local 5103 members came to a membership meeting at the Quality Inn in Maple Shade, NJ today to hear a report on contract negotiations and to get ready for the May 24 strike deadline. ARC management continues to refuse to bargain in good faith. The members reaffirmed their support for the Negotiations Committee and signed up for picket line shifts and other strike activities.


Red Cross Workers Issue 10 Day Strike Notice to Management
May 15, 2011

HPAE has given the ARC a 10 day strike notice.
Read the Press Release


HPAE Billboards Slam ARC
May 10, 2011
Continuing our campaign to publicize ARC's anti-union and anti-donor actions, HPAE Billboards are now very visible in center city, Philadelphia.

HPAE Web Ad Campaign
May 9, 2011
HPAE began a web ad campaign to publicize the American Red Cross' attacks on our union contract and donor safety. Web ads are appearing in Philadelphia and New Jersey publications. Below is an HPAE web ad ("The Red Cross Double Cross") in NJ.com.

Unanimous Strike Authorization Vote at May 1 Membership Meeting
May 3, 2011

On May 1, Local 5103 members packed the house for a UNANIMOUS YES VOTE to authorize the Negotiations Committee to take action, leading up to a strike if necessary. Our votes show we will continue to stand together for affordable health care, safe staffing, and collective bargaining rights until we get a fair contract.

Hear how HPAE Local 5103 members describe their work, and the support they get from being an HPAE member.

Important Membership Meeting on May 1st
April 12, 2011
Please plan to attend the May 1st membership meeting, from 4 pm to 6 pm, at the Quality Inn in Maple Shade, New Jersey. A vote will be conducted to authorize your bargaining team to present a notice to ARC on future actions.


Bargaining Continues: Union Proposals on Wages and Benefits
April 8, 2011
The Negotiations Committee presented Red Cross with our proposals regarding wages and benefits. We also clarified the purpose and effect of several Red Cross proposals.
Read More


Negotiations Update: Our Initial Proposals
March 30, 2011
The Local 5103 Negotiations Committee presented Red Cross with proposals that address safe staffing and scheduling, as well as travel and parking issues.
Read More


ARC Contract Proposals Attack Employee Rights, Benefits, and Wages
March 24, 2011
At the first bargaining session, the Red Cross gave us a package of proposals that would undermine the standards and conditions we have struggled to achieve since Local 5103 achieved its first contract with ARC in 1997. We must stand together and show Red Cross we are one. Come to the membership meeting on April 10 to get an update on the negotiations and learn how you can help to achieve a good contract.
Read More


Local 5103 Bowling Night
March 19, 2011
Local 5103 members at ARC and family members began their contract campaign March 19th with a night of bowling and food. Below are photos of the members’ kids and Local 5103 members at the event.

Petition Campaign to Support Worker and Donor Safety
March 3, 2011
As part of the contract negotiations, Local 5103 has begun a petition campaign in the community and on college campuses to show support for worker and donor safety at ARC.
Read More


ARC Membership Meeting
February 20, 2011
ARC members came out in full force to support the Local Negotiations Committee, express their solidarity with the national Red Cross union coalition, and to voice their opposition to Bio-ARC training.
Click Here to See Photos of the Membership Meeting


ARC Letter to HPAE on Collection Goal for 2010
October 4, 2010

ARC management informed HPAE that the Region did not meet its blood collection goal for 2010.
Read More

September 03, 2010
What if your life-saving medicine contained deadly viruses – and the drug manufacturers, the government, and your own doctors knew but failed to warn you?

Through the eyes of survivors and family members, BAD BLOOD chronicles how a “miracle” treatment for hemophilia became an agent of death for 10,000 Americans. Faced with evidence that pharmaceutical companies and government regulators knew the product was contaminated with deadly viruses from the 1960s through the early 1990s, the hemophilia community launched a powerful and inspiring fight to right the system that failed them and to make it safer for all. Click here to view the trailer

Solidarity Statement of the Coalition of Red Cross Unions
August 20, 2010

In 2009, American Red Cross blood collection workers, represented by a number of unions, began working together and formed a coalition. Our goal has been to protect staffing levels that provide for safety of blood donors and the nation’s blood supply, as well as ensure affordable healthcare for ourselves and our families.

We formed the Worker Committee for Blood Safety, which has become a national watchdog organization that pressures the American Red Cross to clean up its donor and blood safety practices. As advocates for improved blood safety, our Committee works with the Food and Drug Administration and organizations including the National Consumers League, Committee of Ten Thousand, and Hemophilia Federation of America. To raise public awareness of blood safety issues, we have launched our website: blooddrivesafety.com

In June, 2010, seven unions in our coalition representing more than 1,000 blood drive workers, coordinated an unfair labor practices strike at Red Cross operations in New York, Connecticut, West Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, and California. While this initial coordinated action was not enough to resolve outstanding contracts and achieve just settlements for our members, the lessons from this action are clear. By building our coalition, strengthening our solidarity, and fighting together, we can achieve justice for Red Cross workers.

The unions that represent workers at the Red Cross believe that all of our members deserve fair wages, affordable health care, a secure retirement and safe staffing at blood drives. We believe safety can be improved by reducing turnover, assigning reasonable work hours, and staffing all blood drives with licensed nurses. To achieve these collective bargaining goals, it is time to take our coalition a step further.

While each of our unions have obligations to our organization’s constitutions, bylaws and the democratic voice of our members, we, the undersigned unions, pledge our solidarity to the Coalition of Red Cross Unions. Together, we make a mutual commitment to stand by the following principles:

• We seek to eliminate contract language that waives our rights to collectively bargain over mandatory subjects of bargaining.
• We demand common settlements to health care, retirement and staffing issues.
• We recognize that through coordinating bargaining and standing together, we will win fair settlements for our members. We therefore commit to working with the Coalition to achieve coordinated, mutually acceptable settlements.
• We will continue to build our power by putting solidarity into practice. We will increase communication, coordination of bargaining, collective membership action.
• We will continue to support staffing proposals that promote donor and blood safety, and work with FDA and elected officials to improve blood safety practices at Red Cross.

Today, our unions strengthen our commitment to fight for a better future for all Red Cross blood drive workers. Together we will win!

In Solidarity,
Local 5103 Executive Board

Health Professionals and Allied Employees
3641 Haddonfield Road - Pennsauken, NJ 08109

FDA Fines American Red Cross $16 Million for Prior Failures to Meet Blood Safety Laws
For Immediate Release: June 17, 2010

The FDA announced today that the American Red Cross has been fined $16 million for prior failures to comply with Federal laws and regulations related to the collection and manufacture of blood products.

Read the full releases

RED CROSS UNION COALITION UPDATE

June 22, 2010<

HPAE Local 5103 has joined with other unionized Red Cross workers from across the country forming a national union coalition to protect donors, keep the blood supply safe and protect Red Cross workers' rights on a local and national level.

The coalition consists of union members represented by AFL-CIO unions AFSCME, CWA, OPEIU, UAW and USW and several unaffiliated unions including the IBT, UFCW and SEIU.

On June 2, seven coalition unions who are currently in negotiations or working with expired contracts went on limited 1 to 3 day strikes to protest unfair labor practices, safe staffing issues and health insurance. As of now, the strikes are over and we will await negotiation updates.

Collectively we will protect our donors and our rights.

If you have any questions or would like to get more involved, please contact your Local officers or your HPAE Staff Representative Jeff Hayden at (856) 663 – 0300 or jhayden@hpae.org

Union Coalition of Red Cross Workers

Unions representing Red Cross workers across the U.S. have joined together to form a coalition that is fighting to protect donors, keep blood safe, and demand respect for Red Cross workers.

Demanding that Red Cross Fix Longstanding Blood Safety Compliance Problems:

• Since 2003, the FDA has fined Red Cross $21 million for repeated safety failures.
• On October 30, 2009, FDA issued its most recent findings on blood safety violations at Red Cross. This includes 231 recall incidents involving the distribution of 7,363 suspect blood products.
• We believe working conditions are linked to the recurrent blood safety compliance failures at Red Cross. Workers report that factors contributing to safety errors include understaffing, long hours, and the loss of experienced staff due to high turnover.

Demanding Respect for Red Cross Workers:

• Nationwide, between 1996 and 2007, more than 200 unfair labor practice (ULP) charges were filed against ARC with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
• Recently, the NLRB has issued ULP complaints against Red Cross in Connecticut, New York, Michigan, and Missouri (Illinois, and Ohio). Additional ULP charges are under investigation in Oakland, Hartford, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
• To boost profits, Red Cross is trying to force employees to work unlimited hours, replace nurses with unlicensed supervisors, and slash health care and retirement benefits.

Coalition Launches New Website

• Go to http://www.blooddrivesafety.com – our new website where you can learn more about the coalition. The website includes a history of mismanagement at Red Cross; FDA violations by Region, and a page where you can report blood safety concerns.

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April 29, 2010

Click the image above to read Labor Relations of the American Red Cross and its Impact on Employee and Donor Safety

Know your rights regarding unpaid leave due to domestic and sexual violence:

Please disregard the expiration date on this document.

Click here to read a summary of rules employer's must follow regarding leave for survivors of domestic and sexual violence

Back to Basics

Hello Everyone, 

I’d like to greet all of our new members, and introduce myself, as well as say hello to everyone who already knows me. I’m Judy Merkowsky, and I’m a co-president of our Local. I want to remind everyone of a couple of things. First and foremost, NEVER go downtown for discipline without Representation. Even if you know you committed an infraction or made an error, it’s still in your best interest to take someone with you. A Rep will witness what’s going on, and take notes. In the event that the incident or discipline comes up again, or is referenced later, the Rep can serve as a resource for what occurred at the original meeting. Additionally, the Rep can make sure that the meeting remains “civilized” and that the topic doesn’t extend beyond the immediate cause for discipline. If you feel the discipline is being issued wrongly, the Rep will be able to begin the grievance process. A Rep is generally not going to be able to prevent the discipline from being issued, but rather will witness the discipline and file an appropriate grievance.   

If you’re called for an “investigation” and are suspicious or concerned that there may be a discipline involved, never hesitate to invoke your “Weingarten Rights”. These rights are federally protected (see the article below).

As always, I encourage you all to read and understand your contract. It is in place to protect and benefit you. The Officers and Reps of the Local are available to assist you and answer any questions you may have. Don’t hesitate to call us.  

We encourage you to attend Membership Meetings, too. An involved membership means a healthy Local, and is our best weapon to  keep management from taking advantage of us. Keep in touch. 

Judy

Weingarten Rights

EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT TO UNION REPRESENTATION

The rights of unionized employees to have present a union Representative during investigatory interviews were announced by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 1975 case (NLRB vs. Weingarten, Inc. 420 U.S. 251, 88 LRRM 2689). These rights have become known as the Weingarten rights.

Employees have Weingarten rights only during investigatory interviews. An investigatory interview occurs when a supervisor questions an employee to obtain information which could be used as a basis for discipline or asks an employee to defend his or her conduct.

If an employee has a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequences may result from what he or she says, the employee has the right to request union Representation. Management is not required to inform the employee of his/her Weingarten rights; it is the employees responsibility to know and request.
When the employee makes the request for a union Representative to be present management has three options:

1. it can stop questioning until the Representative arrives.
2. it can call off the interview or,
3. it can tell the employee that it will call off the interview unless the employee voluntarily gives up his/her rights to a union Representative (an option the employee should always refuse.)

Employers will often assert that the only role of a union Representative in an investigatory interview is to observe the discussion. The Supreme Court, however, clearly acknowledges a Representative's right to assist and counsel workers during the interview. The Supreme Court has also ruled that during an investigatory interview management must inform the union Representative of the subject of the interrogation. The Representative must also be allowed to speak privately with the employee before the interview. During the questioning, the Representative can interrupt to clarify a question or to object to confusing or intimidating tactics. While the interview is in progress the Representative can not tell the employee what to say but he may advise them on how to answer a question. At the end of the interview the union Representative can add information to support the employee's case. It is extremely important that all members are aware of their Weingarten rights and use them. Union Representation in this context is crucial to ensure the employee is treated fairly and not harassed by management.

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