Some American Red Cross workers who are on strike walk the picket line Wednesday near the Muskegon office. The striking workers held a rally Wednesday.MUSKEGON, MI – Carrying signs and yelling out chants, some American Red Cross workers who have been on strike for nearly a month hosted a rally and continued to walk the picket line Wednesday afternoon.
About 50 members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 459 and Teamsters Local 580 were on hand in the first hour of the rally staged near the intersection of Third and Webster streets, adjacent to the American Red Cross Muskegon office and Hackley Park. The labor dispute involves workers in the blood collections division.
Union negotiators and management last met for a negotiating session two weeks ago.
The union members, some who work out of the Muskegon office, have been without a new contract since 2008. Local 459 alleges unfair labor practices by the American Red Cross, collective bargaining issues, concerns over health care negotiations and need for improvements in blood-safety practices.
The American Red Cross announced Wednesday that it had reached agreement with two more labor unions in other parts of the country. Monica Stoneking, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Great Lakes Region, said that the 20 settlements reached since July all have the same health benefits that the union here has rejected.
Cindy Krieger, a registered nurse and 23-year employee of the American Red Cross Muskegon office, and Jennie Hemstreet, a union steward for truck drivers, said the main issue for the workers is their bargaining rights. Wednesday’s rally was specifically held to support collective bargaining rights.
“We’re ready to stay out, because we’ve been bargaining in good faith,” Krieger said, calling the American Red Cross’ latest offer a form of “regressive bargaining. “We’re out for the duration.”
Hemstreet, who has worked out of Lansing since 1992, said the union members are concerned with attempts to reduce hours, limit future bargaining and keep employees from reporting safety violations.
“They’re trying to take our rights away from us,” Hemstreet said.
"Health benefits remain the biggest obstacle to reaching a contract agreement with workers in Lansing," Stoneking said of the Lansing-based unions on strike here. "The Red Cross offered its union members a benefits package that is consistent with those provided to non-union employees, but union leaders continue to demand health benefits that are greater than those of any Red Cross employee in the state."
The ongoing strike has caused cancellations and rescheduling of periodic blood drives and regular blood donation office hours in the regional office's 65 counties, including the Muskegon office that services Muskegon, Oceana and Newaygo counties.
Those wishing to donate blood are being directed to call 1-800-733-2767 to find out the schedule for events, which is constantly changing. Stoneking has said some blood drives are able to be held with supervisors and some workers who crossed the picket line.
Eric Gaertner covers politics, government and the outdoors. He can be reached at egaertne@mlive.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricGaertner1.