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03/08/2010 10:14:18 AM
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Monday March 8th, 2010 CWA and the American Red Cross are scheduled to go back to the bargaining table with Federal Mediation involvement on Tuesday March 16th. The American Red Cross has been indicted by the National Labor Relations Board for violating the National Labor Relations Act. The Red Cross has unilaterally changed our member’s defined pension and 401k plan. This is unlawful and this issue will be adjudicated at trial beginning March 22nd. CWA expects similar indictments over the implementation of the Red Cross self insured revenue generating health care plan and claims of union animus treatment of our bargaining committee members. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Friday December 18th CWA and the American Red Cross resumed bargaining with Federal Mediation involvement. No agreement has been reached. Bargaining is tentatively scheduled to resume on Monday January 25th. On Wednesday January 6th the American Red Cross will conduct an open question and answer forum specific to the Health Care Proposal being offered by the American Red Cross. This open forum will take place at the American Red Cross headquarters 786 Delaware Av. We encourage all members to join your bargaining committee and attend this meeting. Its time to stand up and be counted and let your voice be heard. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Wednesday December 2nd CWA and the American Red Cross will resume contract negotiations on Friday December 18th with Federal Mediation involvement. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Saturday November 21st On Tuesday November 10th the American Red Cross presented to your bargaining committee a final contract offer. We presented this final contract offer to our members on Saturday November 21st. By an overwhelming 100% margin our members in each of the tele-recruiter, service and maintenance, and technical units have flat out rejected this final contract offer. CWA would like to get back to the bargaining table as your bargaining committee has more proposals to make. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Tuesday November 10 CWA and the American Red Cross resumed contract negotiations today in Buffalo. No agreement has been reached. Our bargaining committee has received a final contract offer from the American Red Cross. We will present this final contract offer to our members at our contract ratification vote meeting scheduled for Saturday November 21st here at our local union hall 3775 Genesee St. The meeting will begin at 5pm. The ratification vote will follow. All members of the tele-recruiter, service & maintenance and technical units should plan on attending this meeting Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Labor Relations at the American Red Cross......Philip Dine report
Wednesday September 16th Collective Bargaining resumed today between CWA and the American Red Cross. No progress was made. The Red Cross exchanged with CWA a new wage proposal while rejecting the Unions Health Care proposal. The American Red Cross refuses to move off of their draconian health care proposal and is bargaining in bad faith over our members Health Care Benefits. The next scheduled bargaining session is to be determined. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Tuesday September 1st CWA and the American Red Cross go back to the bargaining table on Wednesday September 16th in Buffalo. Both sides remain far apart on wages, health care and pension benefits. CWA is reviewing information provided by the American Red Cross specific to their health care proposal to determine its impact on our members
Friday August 14th Collective Bargaining resumed today in Buffalo between CWA and the American Red Cross. Very little progress was made on our economic issues. We remain very far apart on health care and pension benefits for our members. The American Red Cross wants the exclusive right to change, modify, and/or alter the health care plan, its design, and cost. This proposal would significantly increase the health care costs for our members. Bargaining is scheduled to resume on Friday August 21st in Buffalo. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Monday July 13th CWA and the American Red Cross are scheduled to resume bargaining with Federal Mediation involvement on Friday August 14th and Friday August 21st in Buffalo. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Friday June 19th After four (4) months of contract negotiation the American Red Cross refuses to move off of their INITIAL retrogressive, concessionary proposal. Below is a summary of the offer from YOUR employer. There are three (3) sensitive outstanding items of concern.
(1) WAGES and other COMPENSATION
(2) HEALTH CARE BENEFITS
(3) RETIREMENT
Early on in these negotiations the American Red Cross bargaining committee informed your negotiating team that they have the ability, but are not willing to offer a fair and just contract. They also informed us that their management team received monetary pay increases in March of 2009. We started formal negotiations with the American Red Cross on March 4th, 2009. With this draconian proposal on the table, the outstanding items, and the statements that have been made, we are inclined to believe that the only interest being protected here is the interest of the American Red Cross. That is wrong, it is unacceptable, and it needs to change. It is a collective bargaining agreement. It includes US and we remain committed to deliver a fair and just collective bargaining agreement. An agreement that will serve and protect the interest of the Blood Donor, Blood Recipient, CWA members, and the American Red Cross. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Friday May 1st CWA has requested Federal Mediation involvement during our next round of collective bargaining negotiations. Date and time to be determined. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Thursday April 30th CWA / American Red Cross Bargaining Update Contract Negotiations have broken down. No agreement has been reached on either the Service, Maintenance, and Technical unit or Telerecruiter unit contracts. The American Red Cross refuses to move off of their retrogressive, concessionary wage and benefit package. No new talks are scheduled. Our contract with the American Red Cross expires at 12 midnight. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Wednesday April 29th CWA /American Red Cross Bargaining Update Kay Schwartz, CEO of the American Red Cross has distributed a memo to our members updating you on these negotiations. Please sister and brother remember this. This Union CWA, represents you and has your best interest to protect. That is our job, that is our duty. The American Red Cross doesn't represent you or your best interest. Review the factual summary below, it is the current status of these negotiations, and ask yourself if the American Red Cross proposal protects your best interest. There is no deal, we are very far apart in reaching an agreement. No progress was made today. The American Red Cross refuses to move off of their retrogressive, concessionary contract proposal. After eight (8) weeks of collective bargaining the American Red Cross currently has on the table:
For example: The American Red Cross has proposed the right to change, modify, and alter their Health Care Plan, including the design and out of pocket cost to our members at their exclusive discretion. Today this plan would cost our members fifteen thousand (15K) per year. Currently we have tentatively agreed to:
As you can see the American Red Cross believes this is all about them and their bottom line. They don't value the service we provide and the commitment we honor. In review of their economic proposal one must conclude that the American Red Cross believes that concessions and retrogressive bargaining agreements is what is needed to revitalize and enrich the Western New York Communities we live in and work in. We don't agree. It is a COLLECTIVE BARGAINING agreement and it includes us. Collective Bargaining continues on Thursday April 30th. Our contract with the American Red Cross expires on Thursday April 30th. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Thursday April 23rd CWA / American Red Cross Bargaining Update No significant progress was made, both sides remain very far apart. The American Red Cross modified their initial economic proposal and presented it to your bargaining committee. It includes
After over seven (7) weeks of negotiating with your employer your bargaining committee has determined that the American Red Cross doesn't care about you. They don't value your service and they are unwilling to invest in your future. All the American Red Cross cares about is their bottom line. Its all about protecting their economic interests. That is wrong, that needs to change and that continues to be what these negotiations are all about. It is a collective bargaining agreement and it includes us. Bargaining is scheduled to resume Wednesday April 29th. Our contract with the American Red Cross expires on April 30th. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Tuesday March 31st CWA / American Red Cross Bargaining Update Very little progress was made today at the bargaining table. We remain very far apart on major issues including wages, health care, premium pay treatment, short notice PTO and the implementation of a Preferred Provider Organization for worker's compensation related issues. Your bargaining committee has requested information specific to the financial position of this employer. We await that information. Both sides have agreed to extend the terms and conditions of our current agreement thru April 30th. Collective Bargaining is scheduled to resume on Thursday April 23rd. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Thursday March 26th CWA / American Red Cross Bargaining Update Significant progress has been made on our non economic issues. Both sides remain very far apart over our economic positions. Here is a brief summary of our differences. The American Red Cross proposes to
As you can see the American Red Cross is not listening to you or your bargaining team. It is not all about them. This is a collective bargaining agreement which includes US. NO GIVEBACKS...NO CONCESSIONS A PROGRESSIVE AGREEMENT Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement
Saturday March 21st CWA Local 1122 Saturday March 21st 8:15pm By better than a 97% percent margin our members at the American Red Cross have authorized the Executive Board of CWA to call a strike against this employer. Collective bargaining is scheduled to resume March 26th. Our contract with the American Red Cross expires on March 31st. Now is the time for the American Red Cross to show up come to the middle of the table an offer our members a fair and just deal. Givebacks and concessions are not an option here in 2009. A progressive agreement which invests in our members and in the Communities they live in and work in is what is needed to help restore and enrich the economic climate here in Western New YorkWednesday March 18th CWA / American Red Cross Bargaining Update Progress has been made specific to our non economic issues. Your bargaining committee was given a presentation on the administration and facilitation procedures specific to the implementation of a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). This PPO will handle workers compensation related issues. Non economic proposals continue to be exchanged, reviewed and argued. Your bargaining committee also presented our responsible economic package and continues to impress upon your employer that concessionary bargaining is not an option for our members. The American Red Cross management team contends that givebacks and concessions from our members will help jump start the Western New York economy. Your bargaining team disagrees. Collective Bargaining is scheduled to resume on Thursday March 26th. Our contract with the American Red Cross expires on Tuesday March 31st. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Friday March 13th CWA / American Red Cross Bargaining Update Slow progress has been made on non economic issues. Your bargaining committee has requested information specific to the employer sponsored Health Care benefit coverage and in response to the American Red Cross proposal to implement a PPO (preferred provider) for workman's compensation related issues. Your bargaining team is prepared to present our comprehensive proposal at our next scheduled meeting. Collective Bargaining resumes Wednesday March 18th in Buffalo. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
Wednesday March 4th CWA / American Red Cross Bargaining Update CWA and the American Red Cross resumed contract negotiations today in Buffalo. Today's bargaining session included lengthy discussion over non economic issues such as
CWA and the American Red Cross will continue contract negotiations on Friday March 13th. Your bargaining team is committed to deliver a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement. |
