Red Cross to end mobile blood drives, lay off 52 in Worcester, Springfield
Flickr/Mike Mozart
A Red Cross mobile collection vehicle
The American Red Cross is discontinuing community and mobile blood drives in Western and Central Massachusetts, resulting in the elimination of 52 jobs.
The organization on Tuesday confirmed a state filing informing officials of the loss of jobs, which is affecting workers in both Worcester and Springfield.
The cuts are expected to take place by Nov. 8.
The Red Cross said in a statement it needs to consolidate its operations in the area and become more efficient to deliver cost-effective and reliable products and services.
“Unfortunately, this decision will affect 52 Red Cross employees supporting our mobile blood collections in Central and Western Massachusetts,” the organization said. “We are committed to doing the most we can to help make this transition as smooth as possible, and will also continue to work with the local unions to address issues collaboratively.”
Blood and platelet donors can continue giving at donation centers in both cities, but community blood drives will end after the first full work week in November.
“This decision will not affect the availability of Red Cross blood products for those in need nor our blood collection operations in the rest of the commonwealth,” the organization said.
Red Cross declined to answer any further questions outside of its statement.
According to financial statements, the international organization reported $3.6 billion in 2018 revenues, up from the $2.7 billion in 2017. The Red Cross finished 2018 with nearly $1.6 billion in net assets, up from $1.2 billion the year prior.
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I predict that his will prove to be a major fail. There are TWO donation sites west of Route 495. This means that some donors will drop out or donate less often. I can't possibly see how this is a "win" for the ARC, nor how they expect to maintain the blood supply by making it more inconvenient for donors. I'm always getting "urgent need" emails, and I have donated whole blood and double red cells for over 30 years.
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