Thousands of Costco workers are preparing to strike if a new contract deal is not reached by a Jan. 31 midnight deadline, with the roughly 18,000 unionized employees demanding higher wages and improved benefits.
The deadline for the labor action comes after the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said on Jan. 20 that its members voted by an 85 percent margin to authorize a strike after negotiations stalled.
“Our members have spoken loud and clear—Costco must deliver a fair contract, or they’ll be held accountable,” Teamsters general president Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement at the time.
The Teamsters union represents 18,000 Costco workers across six states: California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington. However, the labor agreement covers fewer than 10 percent of the company’s 617 U.S. stores, while the potential impact of a strike on store operations remains uncertain….