Red Cross National Bargaining: June 8, 2022 Update

CWA Local 13500 shared the following report from National Coalition negotiations with American Red Cross:

This week, beginning on June 8, 2022, we met with the employer to continue negotiations in good faith. The main focus on this week's sessions focused on a few items:

June 1st TeamCare Cost Share

ARC has implemented the deduction to cover the cost-share increase to TeamCare. In the last extension agreement Coalition members who participate in TeamCare would begin paying the six percent (6%) increase to their benefits. This was agreed upon in the June 2022 extension with the increase taking effect in June. The employer added the increase cost to wages that stemmed from work weeks in May. ARC maintains they are following past practice in applying these increases. The Coalition refutes this claim and maintains that these were unlawful deductions and has notified ARC of our position.

Healthcare

This week we met with the company to discuss each side's Healthcare proposals. The company maintains that the plan proposed by the Coalition is too expensive and provides coverage in excess of what they feel is adequate for the needs of our members. We have made it clear to the employer that we are demanding access to affordable quality healthcare, fair wages and safe working conditions. Years ago, our employer came to us and told us that they were struggling and needed help. Our membership answered the call and sacrificed many benefits that were valuable to them (Examples: CAT time and PTO accruals). As thanks for those sacrifices, our employer continues to reject our calls for a healthcare plan that mirrors our previous cost and remains affordable to our membership. We, as a Coalition, remain strong in our stance that we will not accept anything less.

Things are quickly heating up at the bargaining table. The Coalition continues to hold its ground but we are only as strong as our members. We need to send a strong message to the company that what we are bargaining at the table is of the utmost importance to our members. Every member needs to engage in mobilization to win our issues. The time has come for the fight. Together we can win.

WHEN WE FIGHT WE WIN!!

Read the full report here:

Check out the AFL-CIO's letter to Red Cross here: