Teamsters union members representing over 18,000 Costco Wholesale employees across the United States have voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a nationwide strike, with 85% supporting the move.
The vote comes as the union enters a final round of contract negotiations ahead of the current agreement’s expiration on January 31.
The Teamsters argue that Costco, which reported $254 billion in annual revenue and $7.4 billion in net profits—a 135% increase since 2018—has failed to offer fair compensation and benefits reflective of its success.
“From day one, we’ve told Costco that our members won’t work a day past January 31 without a historic, industry-leading agreement,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien in a press release. “If they refuse, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves when our members go on strike.”
In preparation for a potential strike, Costco Teamsters organized practice pickets in various locations across the country, including Hayward, California; Sumner, Washington; and Long Island, New York. Workers assert their critical role in the company’s profitability.
“We are the backbone of Costco,” said Bryan Fields, a Costco worker from Baltimore and member of Teamsters Local 570. “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 union claims Costco has failed to bargain constructively during negotiations, describing the vote as a response to the company’s inaction. Talks will continue during the week of January 20, with the union pushing for an agreement that reflects the company’s record financial performance.
Costco has not yet issued a public comment on the matter.
If no agreement is reached by January 31, the unionized workforce has signaled readiness to walk out, potentially disrupting operations at Costco locations nationwide.
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