A Costco strike is coming. Here’s what to know

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

A Costco strike is coming. Here’s what to know

Workers inform customers about a power outage outside of a Costco in Foster City, California. – Image: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu (Getty Images)

A strike at Costco (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) is now a real possibility after the union representing thousands of workers voted to authorize it.

With 85% of Teamsters members backing the move, workers are prepared to walk off the job unless the retailer comes to the table with what they deem to be a fair agreement. The union, which represents over

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

nationwide, has been in contract negotiations for months. The current agreement expires on Jan. 31 and, without a resolution, workers may strike to demand higher wages and improved benefits, pointing to Costco’s record profits as justification for their demands.

“Our members have spoken loud and clear — Costco must deliver a fair contract, or they’ll be held accountable,” said Sean M. O’Brien, Teamsters general president. “From day one, we’ve told Costco that our members won’t work a day past January 31 without a historic, industry-leading agreement.”

Teamsters are pushing for better wages, benefits, and working conditions, arguing that Costco’s refusal to offer a fair contract is unacceptable, especially considering the company’s massive financial success. Costco recently reported $254 billion in revenue and $7.4 billion in profits for fiscal 2024, which ended on Sept. 1. Despite this, the company has been

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

to meet the workers’ demands, according to the union. Costco employs roughly 300,000 people across the U.S.

“We are the backbone of Costco,” said Bryan Fields, a Costco worker in Baltimore, in a Teamsters statement. “We drive its success and generate its profits. If the company doesn’t step up, the responsibility falls on them. They’ll be striking themselves.”

Teamsters have been preparing for the possibility of a strike with

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

across the country. In recent weeks, workers held demonstrations in California, Washington,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, and

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

Costco has defended its position, claiming it treats workers better than its competitors. But Teamsters argue that the company’s actions don’t live up to

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

“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 has less than two weeks to fix this. If they don’t, they’ll face the consequences.”

Adding to the tensions, Costco is facing

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

over its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. A vote scheduled for Jan. 23 will determine whether shareholders support a proposal from the National Center for Public Policy Research to end Costco’s DEI initiatives. The conservative think tank argues that such programs are financially risky and discriminatory, citing concerns about hiring and supplier practices based on race and gender.

Story Continues

Costco’s Board of Directors

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

, urging shareholders to reject it. The Board insists that DEI efforts are in line with Costco’s core values of inclusion and respect, which they argue are ultimately good for business.

As the Jan. 31 contract deadline nears, the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

on Costco to resolve its labor dispute and avoid a strike. With record profits and rising worker unrest, the company’s response in the coming days will be critical. Whether or not the strike happens will depend on whether Costco can reach a fair deal with Teamsters before the end of the month.

At

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

(

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) and Starbucks (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

),

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

during the holiday season, further emphasizing the

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

for better pay and working conditions at major retailers.

For the latest news,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

and

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#Costco #strike #coming #Heres

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up