The American Red Cross Receives Complaint Notice of Hearing From NLRB

NLRB has issued to The American Red Cross Badger-Hawkeye Region a Complaint and Notice of Hearing. AFSCME Locals 1558 and 1205 have been in negotiations with Red Cross for successors to contracts that expired in 2013 and 2015.

In recent months, the Red Cross-Badger Hawkeye Region began to require nursing staff to load and drive trucks and truck drivers/loaders to draw donors’ blood. Those who refuse risk the loss of their jobs. Local 1205 objected to the changes as bad faith bargaining and an unfair labor practice and asked the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to investigate. The NLRB has found sufficient grounds to issue a Complaint and Notice of Hearing regarding the Red Cross’s conduct.

“The Red Cross decision to require truck drivers to draw donor’s blood and nursing staff to load and drive trucks before and after drawing blood is bad for donors and bad for staff,” said Neil Rainford, Capitol District AFSCME Field Staff.

AFSCME Wisconsin urges donors and working families to remind the Red Cross that it must bargain in good faith to retain its standing in the community. They can be reached at (608-233-9300 or 800-435-7669). In addition, AFSCME Wisconsin requests that The American Red Cross to set aside these unwise policies and to return to the good faith bargaining that is essential to provide the best possible experience for volunteer blood donors.

For more information please contact Michael Horecki ([email protected])