A “Miracle on 59th Street” that Will Impact Entire Retail Industry

New York, New York—Today the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), UFCW announced the ratification of a new five year contract with Bloomingdale’s covering 2000 workers at the company’s flagship store on East 59th Street in New York City.

The contract, negotiated and ratified by Local 3 United Storeworkers of RWDSU, includes wage increases; enhanced benefits; more control over hours and scheduling; and other pro-worker provisions.

Specifically, the contract provides for: a $3.05 per hour general wage increase over five years; more options for healthcare coverage and lower costs in the existing plan; and unprecedented seniority protections and flexibility in the scheduling system that go further than any other union contract with a large retail company. Senior employees can now choose their preferred hours first, and all workers will get to choose one weekend off a month and the late nights they want to work. Managers must respect and honor the choices made by workers. The right of workers to arbitrate over scheduling is maintained.

The scheduling provisions build upon and exceed what Macy’s Inc. agreed to last year in a contract for all workers at their global flagship store in New York City that was negotiated and ratified by RWDSU. This particular victory will have industry-wide implications because it comes as many retail workers struggle with underemployment and find it difficult to get the hours they want and deserve. A recent study of the retail industry in New York City revealed that only 17% of workers have a regular schedule.

In addition, no existing benefits will be eliminated in the contract; paternity leave will be offered for the first time; LBGT nondiscrimination language will be added for the first time; commission rates will be increased for a large percentage of commission employees; the return policy for merchandise will be reduced from 180 to 150 days and to 120 days by the end of the contract; and a punitive evaluation system known as ADR will be replaced by a new review system focused on enhanced worker training.

“This contract is truly a miracle on 59th Street,” said Cassandra Berrocal, President of Local 3 United Storeworkers of RWDSU. “Overall, it’s the best contract we have ever negotiated, and it will improve the lives of our members for many years to come. We fought hard and won big. We showed what can be accomplished when working people stand up for what is right.”

“We set a higher standard for how Bloomingdale’s and the retail industry should treat employees,” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), UFCW. “This contract is a powerful reminder that unionization is the best way to improve the quality of retail jobs. We will use this contract to organize many more retail workers across the city and country.”

To all RWDSU Local 3 members:

Notice

Agenda:

CONTRACT RATIFICATION

STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE

When: Tuesday, May 1st 2012
Time: 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm
Place: All Saints Church on 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.

It is imperative for all Union members to attend the Union meeting on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at All Saints Church on 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues at 4:30 or 6:30pm, where we will be holding a Contract Ratification and/or STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE. Where you the members of this Union will decide if we accept or reject the Company’s final offer once the negotiations between RWDSU Local 3 and Bloomingdales have been concluded sometime between now and April 30th, 11.59 p.m., 2012.

Yours in Solidarity, Local 3 RWDSU, Negotiation Committee

To download a printable version of this notice click here.

To all RWDSU Local 3 members:

Once again Mr. Mast and his team are working hard to provide more propaganda letters. We have lost count is it four or five, well it doesn’t matter except that once again it is incorrect and misleading.

Mr. Mast and his team are spreading unnecessary fear among the Union members and misinforming everyone about internal Union matters that he has no understanding about. Let us once again correct a few of his misunderstandings.

1) The Union does NOT put anyone on strike. Only by a vote of YOU the Union membership can a strike actually take place. It is the Union’s responsibility to recommend a course of action based on what the proposed contract will contain once it is negotiated. The final decision is up to you the membership.

2) The Union has not given information about a strike because the membership has NOT voted for one.

3) The Company managers are going around the store trying to scare the Union members with talk and threats about a strike in an effort to undermine your negotiation committee. Please remember to ask to have a Union steward present anytime a manager begins to talk about internal Union matters.

4) Please remember your Local 3 negotiation committee is fighting for those items that the membership asked the Union to fight for during the contract proposal meetings, which are all posted online:
A) Better Wages
B) Saving the Storeworkers Security Plan for the membership benefits that it provides.
C) Better Paid sick days from the Storeworkers Security Plan.
D) More affordable Medical Coverage through the Storeworkers Security Plan.
E) Fairness in the work place
F) Changes in how the Company’s return policy affects salespersons
G) Night shift premium
H) Elimination of the ADR system

There are many other things as well. Don’t buy into the Company’s propaganda campaign; just take it for what it is, The Company’s fear and intimidation effort to undermine your negotiation committee. Remember, it is because your Local 3 negotiation committee is standing strong together that generates these attacks by Mr. Mast and his propaganda team. Mr. Mast who has not bothered to attend a single negotiation session and yet is now somehow magically an expert on internal Union matters. Let your manager know when he/she comes around to spread their propaganda that you stand with the Union in fighting for a fair contract for all of the hard work that the employees do for the Company.

Please, remember to attend the Union meeting on Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at All Saints Church on 60th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue at 4:30 or 6:30pm, where we will be holding a Contract Ratification and/or STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE, and where you the members of this Union will decide if we accept or reject the Company’s final offer once the negotiations between RWDSU Local 3 and Bloomingdales have been concluded sometime between now and April 30th, 11.59 p.m., 2012.

Yours in Solidarity,

Local 3 RWDSU Negotiation Committee

To download a printable version of the letter click here.