Labor board (NLRB) sides with Red Cross workers (LANSING, Mich)

[Omaha Steve]

http://peoplesworld.org/labor-board-sides-with-red-cross-workers/

by: Mark Gruenberg
May 23 2011

LANSING, Mich. - A National Labor Relations Board administrative law judge has stepped into the middle of the campaign by Red Cross to drive down wages and benefits of its unionized workers, finding the huge non-profit organization guilty of charges filed against it by the Office and Professional Employees' Local 459 here and Teamsters Local 580.

In his May 5th 54-page ruling, Administrative Law Judge Jeffrey Wedekind said he found that the Red Cross arguments for its case were "without merit" or worse.

Wedekind's ruling represents another win for OPEIU and its union allies in their long-running battle with one of the nation's best-known, and wealthiest, charities. The Red Cross has been trying to cut wages, benefits and jobs - all represented by OPEIU and also by other unions - in Michigan, West Virginia and several other states.

Its cuts forced the Lansing OPEIU local to strike for three days in 2010, and led to declining staff morale elsewhere in the organization.

The resulting staff cuts also led the federal government to fine the Red Cross $37 million in the past few years for not keeping the U.S. blood supply fresh. The Red Cross is its principal custodian, and without trained workers to monitor blood and replenish it, the blood becomes useless.

FULL story at link.