Red Cross Workers Ask for Fair Treatment

[Omaha Steve]

Red Cross Workers Ask for Fair Treatment As Interfaith Worker Justice Urges Congregations To Question Blood Drive Practices- 11/11/10

http://www.laborradio.org/Channels/Story.aspx?ID=1309863

11/10/2010
By Doug Cunningham

Interfaith Worker Justice has released a guide to congregations sponsoring Red Cross blood drives urging them to question Red Cross on treatment of its workers and its blood safety practices. Lance Rhines of OPEIU Local 459 in Michigan says Red Cross is not bargaining in good faith with its workers, is forcing big health care costs increases and is imposing harsh working conditions that may well be affecting blood safety.

: “The health care costs the Red Cross is imposing on workers will be a tremendous financial burden. Workers will have to pay over six thousand dollars just for premiums for their medical, dental and vision coverage. We’re only askin' that the Red Cross treat us fairly. We believe it's going to be fair and good for workers and it will also be good for the Red Cross and the American public blood supply.”

Keith Steele with AFSCME Council 31 in Peoria says Red Cross is very anti-union and tries to scare workers away from supporting the union.

: “We all signed a petition and it had our pictures on it. Management had that in their office and started crossin' x's in the people's pictures - the ones that got fired as it went on - to intimidate us."
By Doug Cunningham

Interfaith Worker Justice has released a guide to congregations sponsoring Red Cross blood drives urging them to question Red Cross on treatment of its workers and its blood safety practices. Lance Rhines of OPEIU Local 459 in Michigan says Red Cross is not bargaining in good faith with its workers, is forcing big health care costs increases and is imposing harsh working conditions that may well be affecting blood safety.

: “The health care costs the Red Cross is imposing on workers will be a tremendous financial burden. Workers will have to pay over six thousand dollars just for premiums for their medical, dental and vision coverage. We’re only askin' that the Red Cross treat us fairly. We believe it's going to be fair and good for workers and it will also be good for the Red Cross and the American public blood supply.”

Keith Steele with AFSCME Council 31 in Peoria says Red Cross is very anti-union and tries to scare workers away from supporting the union.

: “We all signed a petition and it had our pictures on it. Management had that in their office and started crossin' x's in the people's pictures - the ones that got fired as it went on - to intimidate us."