Red Cross workers: Firings due to contract tiff

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.bristolpress.com/articles/2010/05/19/news/doc4bf48e89ef11b743670871.txt

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 9:39 PM EDT

By Scott Whipple
Staff Writer

NEW BRITAIN — Council 4, the parent union of AFSCME Local 3145, filed an unfair labor practice complaint Wednesday with the National Labor Relations Board against the American Red Cross.

The union alleges the Red Cross fired two phlebotomists for retaliatory purposes. The company has stated the workers were fired for insubordination, despite written statements from the staff present corroborating the workers’ concerns about hot, humid working conditions adversely affecting donors and employees.

The local president said the firings are rataliatory as the union has been working without a contract for more than a year and has authorized a strike.

Calls to Red Cross New England headquarters seeking comment were not returned.

Brianne Decio, 26, and Lisa Novicelli, 22, both members of AFSMCE Local 3145, were terminated May 11 over events that took place during a blood drive three days earlier at the High Plains Community Center in Orange.

Both workers had symptoms of heat exhaustion and went to the company equipment van for a few minutes of air conditioning. Decio had a migraine headache, Novicelli feelings of nausea. Decio said at least one donor suffered a seizure possibly related to uncomfortable conditions.

“The blood drive supervisor, a management person and not medically licensed, tried to get a couple of fans working,” Decio said.

FULL story and photo at link.