So just how is the ongoing Red Cross worker strike in Lansing affecting service and what is the impact?  Local officials are finally speaking up about it.

Red Cross spokeswoman Monica Stoneking speaking to mlive.com's Angela Whitrock said many of the Red Cross' services will remain unaffected.

"Disaster services, military assistance, some food banks and CPR training won't be affected by the strike," she said. "However the number of blood collection drives will be affected which in turn hurts our blood supply," Stoneking said.

Managers and other trained officials are stepping in to fill the vacancies left by striking workers, but it's not enough to maintain the number of drives planned before the strike. The Red Cross supplies both Sparrow Hospital and McLaren-Greater Lansing with blood.

For the time being the Red Cross is able to fill its requests by calling on other suppliers to fill the void, but Stoneking said she is worried that a prolonged strike could lead to an actual blood shortage.

So the question that has yet to be answered is WHY are the Red Cross workers striking in Lansing?