More than 18,000 workers at Costco are preparing to take part in picket lines in less than a fortnight unless a labor dispute concerning wages and benefits is settled. The Teamsters union recently reported that members voted overwhelmingly—by an 85% margin—to authorize a strike as their current contract is set to expire on January 31.
Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien emphasized that the union's members expect Costco to negotiate a fair contract, stating, "From Day 1, we've told Costco that our members won't work a day past January 31 without a historic, industry-leading agreement." He also criticized Costco executives for being greedy and underscored the urgency of the matter with the deadline approaching.
The specifics of the union's demands regarding wages and benefits have not been disclosed. A union spokesperson mentioned they are seeking the best compensation in the industry while noting that Costco has yet to provide a meaningful response to their requests.
As the potential strike looms, Teamsters members across the country have started practicing pickets in various locations, from Hayward, California, to Long Island, New York. Costco, which operates 897 warehouses—617 of which are in the U.S. and Puerto Rico—has not responded to requests for comments on this situation.
7 Comments
Karamba
Strikes are sometimes necessary to make companies realize the value of their employees.
Matzomaster
Costco has always been a good employer. This type of ultimatum isn't fair to them or the customers.
Rotfront
This is just a publicity stunt to get attention. Real negotiations happen behind closed doors.
Karamba
I support the workers! They keep Costco running, so they should be compensated fairly.
Pupsik
Picketing is not the answer—it only creates division. There are better ways to address concerns.
Michelangelo
This union action feels more about politics than actual worker welfare. Let's keep things in perspective.
Muchacho
They should reconsider! A strike will only hurt their image and future job security.