Red Cross’ blood-supply workers on strike

Omaha Steve

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-03-09 08:09 PM
Original message

Red Cross’ blood-supply workers on strike

Source: Philly.com

By Stacey Burling

More than 100 members of Teamsters Local 929 went on strike today against the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region when their contract expired at 12:01 a.m.

The members pack and store blood, load trucks, and deliver blood, said Rocky Bryan, the local's vice president.

The American Red Cross in Philadelphia says striking employees have blocked a blood delivery to a hospital.

Red Cross spokesman Anthony Tornetta says members of Teamsters Local 929 had to be told today that a 2-year-old child's life depended on a blood delivery before they would get out of the way.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20091203_Red_Cross_blood-supply_workers_on_strike.html

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

CaliforniaPeggy

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-03-09 08:17 PM
Response to Original message

1. The Red Cross is virulently anti-union.

They are tough negotiators.

I used to work for them, as a staff RN. We struck them one year here in LA, and everybody (both sides) lost. There were many bitter feelings afterwards.

I have generally found that unions come in when the employer abuses its employees.

That was true where I worked, anyway.

Good luck to that union...

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DRoseDARs

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Dec-03-09 10:15 PM
Response to Original message

2. Not sure how I feel about this. Lives are literally threatened if blood packs are blocked (if true).

It's one thing for air controllers and auto workers to strike. Planes can land without towers being staffed ... it's just that that it is EXCEEDINGLY dangerous without people on the ground coordinating all the flight paths, which is why we don't do that; most commercial-sized planes can be grounded for everyone's safety until the strike ends (or a president orders them back to work, or scabs are brought in). No one's life is threatened by an unfinished car (though the workers' livelihoods are if they're not careful), so yeah picket away until management negotiates fairly.

But blocking blood packs (if the report is true)?

Seriously?

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

MilesColtrane

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Fri Dec-04-09 12:15 AM
Response to Reply #2

3. First rule of thumb of a labor dispute.

Never believe anything that comes out of the mouth of management.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

PennJerseyGirl

(1 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sat Dec-19-09 11:53 PM
Response to Original message

4. Striking Teamsters

I work with these guys. They would not and did not block blood from being distributed. Lives are not jepordized by this strike. The strike is about working 14 or 18 hours a day, 21 days in a row. One of the teamsters I worked with just before the strike worked and didn't get home till around 1130 pm. got to bed around midnight, had to be back at work at 3 am. These guys are responsible for blood safety, and also drive trucks on all the major highways....do you want them to be tired??? They are looking for fair treatment and respect from an arrogant employer.

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

bemildred

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Sun Dec-20-09 10:21 AM
Response to Original message

5. I support the union. nt

Printer Friendly | Permalink | | Top

DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

Sun May 05th 2024, 02:10 PM
Response to Original message

Advertisements [?]

Top

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.