Red Cross Workers Issue 10 Day Strike Notice to Management

Red Cross Workers Issue 10-day Strike Notice to Management
Ad Campaign and Negotiations Focuses on Donor Safety and Working Conditions

Red Cross Blood Services workers issued a 10-day notice of intent to strike on May 24 at Red Cross blood collection sites throughout NJ and Philadelphia area. Billboards, flyers and web ads that raised safety concerns about American Red Cross (ARC) Blood Services sprang up this past week in the Philadelphia area, sponsored by the nurses and donor collection staff who are in contract negotiations with the Penn-NJ Region ARC Blood Services Division.
A unanimous strike authorization vote on May 1 by blood service workers at ARC was given to Red Cross management and the federal mediation service on Friday, May 13. The potential strike added to the growing list of labor disputes across the country for American Red Cross. The contract between 240 nurses and donor collection staff, represented by the Health Professionals and Allied Employees/AFT/AFL-CIO, and the ARC is due to expire on May 22, and a strike is now possible, the first in this region since 1997.
Nurses and staff at ARC say they have filed unfair labor practice charges over the many changes made by ARC in their working conditions, health coverage and retirement plans, and that negotiations are proving more difficult than in the past. Nurses and donor collection staff are seeking better staffing, training, and scheduling systems as well as reinstatement of their retirement plan.
“Even though their revenue from blood collections amounts to more than $2.2 billion a year, ARC continues to cut costs by reducing our health and retirement security, extending our working hours and ignoring safety concerns at blood drives,” said Renee Conyers, a donor collection staff at ARC and president of the technical unit of HPAE Local 5103.
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has fined ARC $37 million for violating a long-standing federal consent decree over safety issues, including $16 million in fines in 2010. Nationally, there are more than 30 expired contracts between unions and ARC, and scores of unfair labor practice charges pending in a number of states. ARC has also been cited by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and a federal judge for their labor violations, and for failing to bargain over health insurance and retirement plans.
HPAE and ARC are continuing their negotiations, with another session scheduled for May 17. Workers are meeting in Maple Shade on Sunday to discuss negotiations and strike planning. As in the past, workers intend to publicize and encourage blood donations at alternative blood sites so there is minimal disruption to the blood supply.
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For more information on the ads go to www.hpae.org/redcross
Web ads are posted on NJ.com and Phily.com. (and attached)
Billboards are on Vine St @ 11th St; Northwest corner of 12th & Vine Sts (near Spring Garden);
South of Broad Street.