Red Cross Workers Vote to Drop Plans for Strike

American Red Cross workers in Los Angeles and Orange counties called off plans for a strike Tuesday after a federal mediator recommended a meeting between the union and management.

Nurses and medical assistants voted 205 to 1 Monday to reject the Red Cross’ latest contract offer and go on strike Tuesday. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service subsequently sent a letter asking the union to withdraw its strike notice.

The union and Red Cross management agreed to meet with the mediator April 10.

The workers contend the proposed contract jeopardizes safety. “The reason we took this step to strike in the first place is our commitment to the donors and keeping the blood supply safe,” said Helen Horn, representative for the Service Employees International Union, Local 535, which represents more than 230 Red Cross nurses and medical assistants.

But the Red Cross says the workers are demanding raises in the face of a budget shortfall.

Had the union struck, regular blood collection would have stopped, but collections from platelet donors would have continued with managers filling in.

The union said management wants to make staffing changes that would put donors and the blood supply at risk. Additionally, union officials say the new contract wanted to reclassify head nurses as managers, and thus make them ineligible for union protection.

Horn denied statements by Red Cross management that the dispute centered on the Red Cross’ refusal to grant raises.