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Following days of stormy negotiations between labor and management, members of Local 1-S of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union have threatened a strike against Macy’s at four different New York locations, including Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square if an agreement is not reached before midnight on Thursday. This strike would involve nearly 5,000 workers walking out on their jobs, dealing a deadly blow to Macy’s, which has already been in a downward spiral as competitors such as discounted and online stores steadily replace the once-prominent merchant. The Local’s bargaining unit representatives indicated that they refuse to budge on what they believe are necessary health care coverage and fair wages. Macy’s has already placed ads for temporary workers in major local publications, suggesting the gravity of the strike threat and the company’s willingness to take on this challenge regardless of its precarious position.