Valley Stream Target closing for renovations
The labor board says Target violated federal laws by threatening to close the Valley Stream store, above, if workers joined a union during a vote in June. A spokeswoman says the company is committed to following work laws. (June 17, 2011) Credit: John Dunn
Target Brands Inc. plans to close its store in Valley Stream April 29 for renovations.
A spokeswoman said employees of the store, ]which was the site of a failed effort to create what would have been Target’s first unionized shop, would be offered work at nearby Target stores. When the renovated store reopens later this year, the workers “will have the option to transfer back to the Valley Stream store.”
In a filing with the state Labor Department Thursday, Target said 275 workers will be affected.
In the renovation, the front of the store will be moved forward 55 feet, and the store will gain 40,000 square feet, the spokeswoman said. She said the renovation “will bring Target's expanded fresh food assortment to the store,” among other changes.
Newsday reported in August that the National Labor Relations Board was seeking a settlement with Target over alleged violations of federal labor laws during the unionization effort, and the board planned to file a complaint against Target unless it agreed to settle the case.
Of the 260 Valley Stream Target store workers eligible to take part in the June 17 vote, 85 cast ballots for and 137 against.
The spokeswoman said Target “continues to believe the election was a fair one in which our team members rejected unionization. The National Labor Relations Board judge is reviewing all of the information but there has been no decision.”
