A majority of American Red Cross workers in the Tri-Cities and Yakima who successfully unionized last year recently authorized union leaders to call a strike if necessary to get a contract.
The vote, held Sunday in Prosser, drew 80 percent approval, said Rich Davies of Teamsters Local 839 in Pasco, who's been negotiating for the approximately 36 workers.
The workers belong to the Columbia River District, which is part of the Pacific Northwest Blood Service Region of American Red Cross, and it includes blood collection specialists, mobile unit drivers and medical technicians, who help separate platelets, plasma and red blood cells.
The authorization to take strike action will change the tone of negotiations, which have been going on since December, Davies said. "We'll be able to make some progress."
The Red Cross expressed its disappointment at the vote in a news release.
"This vote does not mean that a strike will occur. The Red Cross will continue to negotiate in good faith in hopes of resolving remaining issues across the bargaining table, and is committed to reaching an agreement with the union," the release said.
Davies denied the Red Cross' claim of good-faith negotiations. It shouldn't take that long to put an agreement in place, Davies said.
Both parties are to talk again Sept. 16.
The workers decided to form a union about a year ago because they weren't treated well, Davies said.
"Money is not the main issue," he said. They want parity in workplace rules, including disciplinary actions and scheduling. They want the rules to apply equally to everybody, he said.
For a long time there has been a disconnect between the workers and management, said Jason Bond of Pasco, a former manager for the Red Cross operations in the Tri-Cities. Bond, who worked for the Columbia River District from January 2007 through October 2008, said top brass doesn't seem to be effectively managing the situation.
Bond said the workers enjoy serving the community, and "management needs to provide a constructive work environment."
The workers want to be able to resolve any potential issues without the fear of losing their jobs as the organization becomes more business-oriented in the face of grim economic realities, said Dee Powell, who has worked 11 years for the Columbia River District.
"We want to be treated as team members not just as tools," said Yakima-based Powell. "We don't want to strike."
Powell said she's puzzled at the slow pace of negotiations.
She said also is surprised the Columbia River District unit employees aren't being treated in the same manner as Portland District employees, who have a had a labor-contract for more than 15 years.
Daphne Mathew, Portland-based spokeswoman for the Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region, declined to comment on the negotiations. Her e-mail to the Herald said, "In the unfortunate event of a work stoppage, the Red Cross has a contingency plan in place to meet the blood needs of the communities and people who depend on us."
w Pratik Joshi: 582-1541; pjoshi@tricity herald.com; Business Beat blog at www.tri cityherald.com
