Hourly Update

Teamsters file new charges against Red Cross

The Teamsters have filed new charges of unfair labor practices by the local Red Cross against blood-bank workers who are trying to form a union. On Thursday, around 90 workers with the American Red Cross Blood Services Arizona Region, 222 S. Cherry Ave., are eligible to vote on whether to approve the Teamsters Local Union 104 as their collective bargaining representative. It will be the second election for the workers because the results of the first — 38 to 22 against the union in August — were tossed by the National Labor Relations Board because of employer misconduct. In the latest charges, the Teamsters claim a Blood Services supervisor told phlebotomist Richalene Smith, 41, that she was breaking the law by talking to co-workers about the union before setting up a mobile blood drive. She was told that if she was caught talking about the union again, she would be disciplined, Smith said, “and they have been on me since.” “How are we supposed to be secure with the statement that we can be pro-union without fear of reprisal? It’s impossible,” Smith said. Debra Deininger, a spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Blood Services Arizona Region, said the organization would not comment specifically on the charges because it had not received a detailed version of the complaint. Generally, Deininger said, “We do believe, in this period leading up to the election, we have acted appropriately.” Blood Services previously agreed not to restrict workers from talking about the union. It was part of a settlement agreement regarding previous unfair labor practices charges filed by the union in 2005. As part of the agreement, the company posted a notice to all employees informing them of their “right to talk among yourselves” about being represented by the Teamsters. Blood services workers have been organizing with the Teamsters since 2004.