18,000 Costco Teamsters May Strike February 1st

(KNSI) — Costco Teamsters across the country have voted by an 85% majority to authorize a strike, citing the company’s failure to engage in constructive bargaining or present a fair contract offer despite record-breaking profits.

“Our members have spoken loud and clear: Costco must deliver a fair contract, or they’ll face the consequences,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien. “We’ve made it clear from the start-our members will not work a single day past January 31 without an industry-leading agreement. Costco’s executives have less than two weeks to act. If they don’t, the responsibility for a strike falls squarely on their shoulders.”

Last week, Costco Teamsters nationwide ramped up preparations for a potential strike with practice pickets.

“This strike vote is a direct response to Costco’s greed and blatant disregard for the bargaining process,” said Tom Erickson, Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division. “Costco claims to treat workers better than the competition, but right now, it’s failing to live up to that reputation. Management has less than two weeks to fix this – if they don’t, they’ll face the consequences.”

Costco’s financial success has soared in recent years, with the company reporting $254 billion in annual revenue and $7.4 billion in net profits, which is a 135% increase since 2018. Despite these gains, Teamster members say the company has refused to meet demands for fair wages and benefits that reflect their contributions to Costco’s growth.

“We are the backbone of Costco,” said Bryan Fields, a Costco worker in Baltimore and member of Teamsters Local 570. “We drive its success and generate its profits. We hope the company will step up and do right by us, but if they don’t, that’s on them. The company will be striking itself.”
The current Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement, covering over 18,000 workers, is set to expire on January 31.

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