Local American Red Cross workers are on strike—and now the biggest blood drive of the year isn’t going to happen.
“We were expecting to see 1,200 donors come forward to give, but because of the impending strike, we felt it best to cancel,” said Christy Sabaka, regional communications manager with the American Red Cross of Cleveland.
The blood drive was set to be at Landerhaven Executive Caterers on Valentine’s Day in Mayfield Heights.
About 250 of its blood collection workers and mobile unit assistants will not be there due to budget cuts, said Albert Mixon, the secretary-treasurer of union Teamsters Local 507.
“It’s been an on-going battle,” Mixon said. “A person will forego their lunch, they forego their breaks and they do the best they can, but they process everybody that’s going through the door.”
Mixon said the union submitted 40 proposals in the collective-bargaining agreement in May. Thus far, the Red Cross has rejected them all.
One of the biggest concerns for Mixon is working conditions, especially at large events like the Landerhaven drive.
“Unfortunately, they just don’t take care of the people that do the work,” Mixon said. “They’re underinsured. They work a lot of hours. They cover 19 counties. Regarding, causing donor safety with product if it’s not done proper. This is actually putting a needle in people’s arm.”
To meet the needs of local hospitals, Sabaka said the Red Cross has to collect 900 pints of blood every day. By cancelling the region’s largest blood drive—and potentially more—it may put a major dent in the area’s supply
“It’s a huge disappointment. Many donors look forward to this drive. They only give at this drive every single year,” she said. “We’ll continue to work on contingency plans for local hospitals, but just the fact that we’re not able to hold it this year is a huge disappointment. Not just for us, but for our donors.”
Sabaka said the Red Cross hosts about 25 blood drives in Northeast Ohio every day. She expects other drives and donor centers will be closed until the strike is over, but said some will be open. For more information, go to www.redcross.org.
In the meantime, Mixon said blood donors should consider other blood collection agencies in the area.