NEW YORK (AP) — Workers at Macy's flagship store in New
York City are threatening to strike if there is no new contract by a midnight
deadline.
The store, a Manhattan tourist hot spot on 34th Street,
hasn't had a strike since 1972.
Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and
Department Store Union, which represents the 5,000 workers including the 3,500
from the store, said contested issues include health care, unpredictable
schedules, and pension plans for senior employees.
Three other area stores may strike as well.
"Fireworks are nice, but if Macy's wants to be a
responsible member of the New York community, they have to make sure that the
people they employ are able to afford to live in the city,"Appelbaum told
The Associated Press, referring to the annual July Fourth show. "Macy's is
an iconic New York institution. What happens in these negotiations will set the
trend for the city and for the country."
Macy's sees the threat of the strike as real and has
placed ads in local newspapers including The New York Times seeking temporary
workers. Macy's spokeswoman Elina Kazan says negotiations are ongoing.
"We are committed to keeping the lines of
communication open and continuing the talks round-the-clock with the goal of
reaching an agreement that is fair and equitable both for our workers and the
company," Kazan said. The ads seeking temporary workers are a
"standard but necessary practice" to ensure preparedness in the event
of a strike.
The labor dispute comes as Macy's struggles with slowing
sales growth and intensifying competition on all fronts. Shoppers increasingly
spend more of their money at places like TJ Maxx, and other discounters, or
they don't spend money in stores at all. Online threats have reshaped the
retail landscape.
Industry watchers believe that Amazon.com could become
the country's biggest clothing merchant by next year, dethroning Macy's.
Macy's is not alone in facing new pressure from its
workers.
The union representing workers at Macy's says the cost of
health care for workers is unreasonable. Deductibles for a single worker is
$3,000, and $6,000 for a family, according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department
Store Union,
The RWDSU's Appelbaum says workers want more predictable
schedules. And liberal return policies, which have become crucial in the battle
for consumers who are shopping online, have cut into worker sales commissions.
In an email to The Associated Press, Macy's spokesman Jim
Sluzewski said that crediting sales returns against a worker's pay is
"fair and equitable."
The last threatened strike occurred five years ago, and
was averted only when negotiations were extended beyond the midnight deadline.
Some workers, concerned about how they would get by
without any wages, are hesitant to walk out.
"I'm coming in tomorrow either way, 'cause I have to
pay rent," said Asia Williams of the Bronx, works in merchandising. She
plans on crossing the picket line Thursday if there is a strike.
"They (other workers who will stay on the picket
line) are scared," Williams said. " But I'm not scared."
Leo Ruiz, a salesman, has been working at the Macy's
flagship store for nine years.
"A lot of people don't want to do the strike because
they don't want to lose the money," Ruiz said.
Source: NJ Herald
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