Red Cross workers return to job for 90-day cool-off period

For at least the next 90 days, the Red Cross and its blood service workers have reached an agreement: workers will return to the job Thursday under a 90-day “cooling-off” agreement.

The workers will keep their current contract — the negotiations of which resulted in the May 24 strike — as talks resume. A mediator helped the Red Cross and the Health Professionals and Allied Employees union reach the agreement Monday.

 

This will work if Red Cross bargains fairly over the next 90 days to produce a fair settlement that protects workers’ rights while ensuring safe working conditions and safety for donors and the blood supply,”  said Renee Conyers, co-president  of HPAE local 5103, in a statement released today. “We are glad that we will be able to return to our mission of providing a safe and adequate blood supply to our NJ and Philadelphia communities.”

Negotiations stalled last month when workers said the Red Cross was trying to curb collective bargaining rights for health care an cut benefits.