2,000 Bloomingdale's, Workers Reach Tentative Pact Amid Strike Threat

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.wnbc.com/news/16081307/detail.html

POSTED: 10:19 am EDT April 30, 2008
UPDATED: 10:21 am EDT April 30, 2008

NEW YORK -- Bloomingdale's flagship Manhattan store and its workers have reached a tentative agreement.

The retailer said Wednesday that it agreed on a four-year contract with Local 3 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

The local has set a ratification vote for Thursday. Its current contract expires Wednesday night.

The tentative pact resolves all issues except for a health care plan. The two sides have agreed to devote another two weeks, until midnight May 15, to settle this issue. It will be subject to separate ratification.

The 2,000 workers last week had threatened to walk out on the 59th Street store if an agreement was not reached. It would have been the first strike at the flagship store in 43 years.

The company has 40 stores around the country.