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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, January 11, 2009
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In the wake of the worst holiday shopping season since the Great Depression, Macy's Inc. decision to close 11 stores, including the Crestwood location, will also eliminate 1,000 workers' jobs.
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Macy's Announces Closing of 11 Stores in 9 States
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 11, 2009 - Macy's, Inc. has announced the closing of 11 underperforming Macy's stores, including the store at Crestwood Mall with 176 employees.
"These closings are part of our normal-course process to prune underperforming locations each year in order to maintain a healthy portfolio of stores," said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Macy's, Inc. "While new store growth has slowed in the current economy, our long-term strategy is to continue to selectively add new stores while closing those that are underperforming."
Final clearance sales at these stores will begin within the next week (with the exception of the Hawaii location, which will not hold a final clearance sale).
"The decision to close stores is difficult, and often occurs when the market changes, new competing shopping centers are opened nearby to existing older ones, or when customers change shopping habits. In the store closing process, we are committed to treating affected associates with respect and openness," Lundgren said.
Affected associates in good standing may be considered for open positions at other Macy's locations. Regular full-time and part-time associates who are laid off due to a store closing will be provided severance benefits and outplacement assistance.
"By now it's no secret that what's happening in the retail industry is far different from the cyclical downturn retailers have seen in the past," stated Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, UFCW, in response to the announcement. "Against the backdrop of the collapsing housing and credit markets, even unprecedented holiday discounts failed to revive what were already sagging sales. In 2008, roughly 148,000 stores closed their doors before the holiday shopping season even began. In November alone 91,300 retail jobs were lost."
Appelbaum said, "However, cheap consumer credit alone will not rescue America's retailers: it also requires a dramatic increase in family income and purchasing power. In the year 2000 the median annual income was $50,557. By 2007 it had declined to $50,233. As the recession deepens and unemployment continues to soar there is little doubt that the downward pressure on wages will only grow."
To increase household income, the RWDSU is urging immediate congressional action in two areas:
First, Congress must follow President-elect Obama's lead and support his $800 billion investment and recovery program.
Second, Congress must also approve the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA).
"Given the critical importance of job creation and increasing family income, I invite the retail industry to join the RWDSU in our effort to gain passage of these two initiatives. Unfortunately, as demonstrated by their opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, it seems that some do not yet understand that they can't increase retail sales by impoverishing workers and their families," stated Appelbaum.
Installation begins for Lambert's New Baggage Carousels
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 11, 2009 - Lambert-St. Louis International Airport has begun the installation of a new in-line baggage system in the Main Terminal.
Carousel M6 is the first carousel to be shutdown and enclosed by a protective wall so crews can begin dismantling the unit. Lambert is replacing all six of its Main Terminal baggage carousels and two large-claim units. The project also includes the installation of a new conveyer system that travels between airline baggage tugs and the carousels. Only one carousel will be shut down at any one time. The project is scheduled for completion no later than June.
Passengers should see minimal disruption in baggage service with the closure and construction of one carousel at a time. Passengers should continue to monitor airline announcements or check flight monitors to get their latest baggage claim information.
The new baggage system is manufactured by VanDerLande Industries of Denmark-a premier baggage handling supplier to airports worldwide. The new system is designed to increase the speed and efficiency of baggage delivery between the airlines and the baggage claim units. The new conveyer systems are designed to handle the latest generation of baggage. And the conveyers are designed with straight-line feeds to the carousel, unlike the current system, to reduce baggage jams. Each carousel has a low-profile design that will allow for a more open view across the Baggage Claim area. The current bag claim units are more than 30 years old.
The $5.5 million Baggage Claim project is part of the first phase of renovation projects (totaling $16.7 million) in Lambert's Airport Experience Program. Two other projects in this phase are already underway. Crews are currently restoring the interior ceilings of Lambert's historic domes in the Main Terminal, which should be completed this spring. Lambert is also finalizing plans to overhaul all of the airport's roadway signs to make it easier for motorists to navigate to and from the terminals, parking garages and other airport related facilities. Installation of those new signs will take place through the spring and should be completed by mid year.
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