We in Organized labor should support the American Red Cross “Sleeves Up Campaign”.   For most of us, some very important life events have been put on hold or canceled for the last few months but the need for safe and available blood and blood products does not pause.  The need will never stop.  These are extraordinary times and all of us have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

You can help the Red Cross meet the urgent need for blood AND receive insight into whether you may have been exposed to this coronavirus. For a limited time, the Red Cross is testing all donated blood, platelets & plasma for COVID-19 antibodies. To donate, you must be feeling healthy and well. Appointments are strongly encouraged: rcblood.org/appt

Many of the American Red Cross blood collection regions across this country employ Union represented workers.  Included in this coalition is the Communications Workers of America Local 1122 members. There are almost 50 represented hardworking individuals in Western New York that could take your donation today.  There are other Unions that represent workers from coast to coast, and they include:  AFSCME, AFT, CWA, Teamsters, IUOE, SEIU, UAW, UFCW, USW, OPEIU, and IBEW.

We work together every day to do important work. But today, we want to accomplish something even more meaningful. The Red Cross has to collect 15,000 blood donations every day to have enough blood to help patients in 2,700 hospitals and transfusion centers across the country. That’s a lot of patients in need and all of us, coming together, can help ensure patients receive life saving blood.

So SleevesUp and help us reach our goal. Make and keep an appointment to give blood to the American Red Cross.