18,000 Costco Workers Authorize Strike for Feb. 1 Amid Contract Deadline

Jan 20, 2025, 04:13 PM

More than 18,000 Costco Wholesale Corp. employees, represented by the Teamsters union, have voted to authorize a nationwide strike, with over 85% of members in favor. The vote comes as the current contract, set to expire on Jan. 31, enters its final week of negotiations. The union accuses Costco of failing to offer a fair contract that reflects the company's record-breaking profits, which have increased by 135% since 2018, reaching $7.4 billion in net profits on $254 billion in annual revenue. If no agreement is reached, the strike is scheduled to begin on Feb. 1 at warehouses in five states. The Teamsters are demanding better wages and benefits, citing Costco's recent financial success as a basis for their demands.