On Friday, May 13, 2005, United States Representative Raul Grijalva (D - AZ) will lead a delegation of Tucson community leaders to demand the Arizona Region of the American Red Cross respect their Blood Collection Service Workers' rights to join a union.

In January 2005, 80% of the workers petitioned management to recognize their desire to be represented by Teamsters Local Union No. 104 and begin a fair collective bargaining process. The workers were flatly rejected and have since been the subject of an intense anti-union campaign by Arizona Region management.

The American Red Cross has waged similar anti-union campaigns against its blood collection service employees despite the employees' majority support for union representation in its St. Louis, Missouri and Northern Ohio Regions.

"It is high time the American Red Cross respect the rights of the very people our communities depend upon to ensure our nation's blood supply," said James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President.

  WHAT:    Community Rally for Justice at Red Cross

  WHO:     U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva
           Arizona Region American Red Cross Workers
           Pima County Supervisor, Richard Elia
           Tucson City Council Member Jose Ibarra, Ward 1
           Tucson City Council Member Steve Leal, Ward 5
           Jim Watson, AFL-CIO Community Services
           Teamsters Local Union 104 Members

  WHEN:    Friday, May 13, 2005
           4:00 P.M.

  WHERE:   222 South Cherry Avenue
           Tucson, AZ

CONTACT: Kathy Campbell of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, +1-602-348-0104

Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Web site: http://www.teamster.org/