Southern Calif. Red Cross Workers Go on Strike
May 1, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
Red Cross nurses and workers in Southern California are on strike, complaining that the blood-collection centers are too thinly staffed, reports the Los Angeles Times.
About 270 nurses and medical technicians went on strike on Monday, although they promised to come back to work on Friday and said they hoped to reach an agreement with Red Cross managers soon.
The union argued that the facilities in Southern California rely on too few staff members. Long waits because of low staffing discourage donors, and nurses and technicians have to travel greater distances and work longer hours than in other regions, union officials say.
“We want to make sure they get the point, but it’s important that the blood supply not be hurt,” says Ralph Tracy, a Red Cross technician, who was picketing the regional headquarters in Pomona, Calif. “The public loves the Red Cross, and we need to make sure that we protect the image of the Red Cross as a great humanitarian organization.”
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