Report: Bloomingdale’s, Union Reach Tentative Deal

New York The management of Bloomingdale’s and leaders of Local 3 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union have reached a tentative agreement, according to a report in Women’s Wear Daily.

The union and management are split over health-care coverage and raises and will continue to negotiate the issues for two more weeks, the report said.

 The report also said that the tentative settlement is subject to ratification by the union membership on Thursday. The union's previous contract expired on March 1, but talks had been extended through tonight.

Last week, workers authorized a strike at Bloomingdale's Manhattan store, which could have lead to the first shutdown at the famed flagship in more than four decades. The walkout would have affected only Bloomingdale's 59th Street store.

The union had authorized a strike if an agreement couldn't be reached by 6 p.m. Bloomingdale's said the agreement "eliminates any possibility of a strike being called against the retailer," according to the report.