‘People are walking off the job’: workers blame American Red Cross for US blood shortage

A Red Cross blood drive in Hollywood. Workers say Red Cross management has not supported workers or donors enough to resolve structural issues at the organization. Photograph: Valérie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

The American Red Cross, which controls about 40% of the blood supply in the US, declared a national blood shortage in January, the worst shortage in over a decade.

The Red Cross emphasized decreasing blood donations as a driving factor for shortages, citing a 10% decline in the number of people donating blood during the pandemic. The shortage has continued across the US in recent months.