Teamsters Prepare to Strike Northern Ohio Red Cross

Cuts to Staffing, Health Care Endangering Donor Safety

CLEVELAND, Feb. 2, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 200 Teamsters who work as blood collection workers and mobile unit assistants for the American Red Cross in Northern Ohio announced today that they intend to strike on Feb. 14 over concerns about donor safety.

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The workers, represented by Teamsters Local 507 in Cleveland, have been trying to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement for months, but the Red Cross is insisting on cutting health care benefits and reducing staff to unsafe levels, which they claim is necessary to keep profits growing.

"Our concern is donor safety," said Albert Mixon, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 507. "Teamsters have served our great community for years as steadfast workers at Red Cross. We are operating blood drives at high schools, community centers and hospitals every day. But now Red Cross' blood services division wants to cut staffing levels to the point where donors should be concerned for their safety."

Teamsters who work as blood collection and mobile unit assistants take their work very seriously. But their jobs have become increasingly difficult with continued staffing cuts. Now Red Cross is seeking even steeper staffing cuts to dangerous levels. The nonprofit also is intent on axing workers' health care benefits, claiming all reductions are necessary to keep profits flowing.

"Red Cross needs to respect donors before dollars," said Safeyyah Edwards, a Red Cross Instructor on blood collection who has worked there for the past ten years. "They tell us the cuts are necessary to keep improving their profit margin. But we question why profits should come before donor safety."

"Donating blood saves lives," Mixon said. "It shouldn't be seen as just a moneymaker. We want to continue providing a safe, clean way for the public, which includes our own families, to give blood."

There are other blood collection agencies in the Cleveland area, and Local Union 507 is encouraging donors to consider them during the strike, which is set for Feb. 14.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 507