SEATTLE — Costco workers across the country have authorized a strike if a contract agreement isn’t met by Jan. 31.
Costco Teamsters, which represents 18,000 workers, said Sunday that 85% of its members voted to strike if they didn’t get a fair contract. The Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement expires at the end of the month.
The union said it is asking for fair wages and benefits that reflect the Issaquah-based company’s “enormous” success.
“This strike vote is a direct response to Costco’s greed and blatant disregard for the bargaining process,” Tom Erickson, director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division, said in a statement. “Costco claims to treat workers better than the competition, but right now, it’s failing to live up to that reputation.”
According to the union, Costco recently reported $7.4 million in net profits, which the Teamsters said was a 135% increase since 2018.
KING 5 has reached out to Costco for comment on the strike authorization.
Costco workers across the country are already preparing for a possible strike. Last week, workers in Sumner organized a practice picket.
Costco has 624 warehouses across the U.S. and its territories, including 34 in Washington state. It employs about 310,000 people, according to the company.