Progress Reported on $400-Mil Bloomingdale's Project

SAN FRANCISCO-A $400 million Downtown mixed-use project has hurdled a major obstacle. On Tuesday, organized-labor officials and the project’s developer agreed that, with the exception of Bloomingdale’s, retail workers will have the right to organize on-site.

In addition to San Francisco’s first Bloomingdale’s, the proposed project includes office space, housing, a luxury hotel, shops and restaurants. It is planned to encompass 1.6 million sf on Fourth Street between Mission and Market Streets.

Bloomingdale’s is excepted because it has not received any city money and so City Hall cannot support its workers’ labor demands. However, the project’s hotel, janitorial and restaurant workers will be able to organize by simply signing a statement of interest. Bloomingdale’s workers must attempt to organize through more traditional routes, meaning the store is allowed to fight unionization efforts.

Union officials called the bargain unique, although they say they did not get all they had wanted. The compromise goes before the city’s Board of Supervisors on Monday for official approval.