NEW YORK–Management at Bloomingdale’s has finalized a “tactical plan” to ensure that its iconic 59th Street flagship store will remain open and fully operational in the event of a strike, the retailer said in a statement.
Last week, union members representing the 59th Street flagship voted to authorize a strike if an agreement on a new contract was not reached by April 30. However, no strike date has been set.
Representatives of Bloomingdale’s and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Workers Union Local 3 negotiated throughout the weekend in a bid to reach agreement on a new contract. The current contract expires tomorrow, April 30.
Regarding the potential of a strike, Ann Keating, Bloomingdale’s senior vice president of public relations, said “Bloomingdale’s will remain open for business. Clearly no one benefits from the store being closed—not the management; not our associates, even if their union has authorized them to strike—and most of all, not our loyal customers. Today we have activated a precautionary plan specifically developed for use under these circumstances, ensuring we are completely prepared to fully operate the store in the event the union moves to strike.”