Unions to Team Up in Bloomingdale’s Effort

The Teamsters Union on Thursday withdrew a request before the National Labor Relations Board to represent about 60 workers at Bloomingdale’s Home Store in Newport Beach, saying it wants to team up with the United Food and Commercial Workers union to organize the store.

Officials at the UFCW, which represents more than 100,000 workers at the region’s supermarket chains, were angry with the Teamsters for encroaching on what they believe is their turf, namely the retail industry.

The withdrawal came before the start of a second day of testimony before the labor board. Cincinnati-based Federated Department Stores Inc., which owns Bloomingdale’s, argued Wednesday that the home store, while physically separate, is operated as one unit with the larger fashion store in Newport Beach.

Bloomingdale’s will ask the labor board to prohibit the unions from refiling for an election for at least six months, said Joe Vella, employee relations vice president for Federated.

The two unions have joined forces to try to organize another Federated-owned store, Macy’s, at South Coast Plaza.