An impasse that had threatened to interrupt the Red Cross’ largest blood drive of the year in Wisconsin has come to a resolution in time to keep the gift of life flowing.
AFSCME Locals 1205 and 1558 ratified new contracts with the American Red Cross late last week, ending 16 months of negotiation attempts and calling off the strike that had been scheduled later this week. The 37th annual Holiday Blood Drive on Friday takes place at the Red Cross’ six Wisconsin facilities.
AFSCME Council 32 Executive Director Patrick Wycoff credited the workers for their courage to take a stand and threaten the strike – a position he said was critical to reaching an agreement.
The new three-year agreements include retroactive bonus payments for 2021, retroactive wage increases of 6% for 2022 and 3% for ‘23, access to the United Steelworkers Health and Welfare Fund insurance benefits, and matching 6% and 3% increases to the contract’s progressive wage schedules.
The newly ratified contracts took effect immediately, and will expire at the end of 2024.
Local collection opportunities remaining this year are:
Plymouth
12/21/2022: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Ladewig Zinkgraf American Legion Post 243, 40 S Stafford Street
Sheboygan
12/30/2022: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sheboygan Trades and Labor Hall, 1104 Wisconsin Ave
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