RWDSU Local 3 Membership Ratifies New Bloomingdale’s Contract (5/01/08)

Today, the leaders of Local 3 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), which represents 2,000 Bloomingdale’s sales clerks, shelf stockers and clerical workers, announced the membership has overwhelmingly ratified a new contract agreement with the major retailer. The 4-year contract, effective May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2012, will be in effect immediately, with the exception of an agreement on health care benefits, which will be subject to future ratification.

The new contract agreement includes:

· Guaranteed wages increases each year averaging $2.15 an hour over four years. Employees can earn another 30 cents per hour, depending on the store’s productivity.

· Protections for commission workers during high sales floor traffic periods

· Provisions for part-time employees to receive full-time benefits

· Expanded bereavement leave to include domestic partners

· Reduced quota requirements for credit card applications

The parties agreed to extend negotiations on the health care issue until May 15. Local 3 rejected Bloomingdale's plan to switch to a proposed HMO and is now pushing for store officials to merge the current medical plan with a union-run RWDSU program.

Ida Torres, President of Local 3 RWDSU said: “Our members work hard and deserve all of the benefits of a good contract. We're pleased to have negotiated a new collective agreement with Bloomingdale’s that provides for many improvements and protections including a guaranteed wage increase in each of the 4 years of the contract. I am proud of our members and their resilience and determination to secure a contract that is right for them.”