Costco Teamsters Authorize Strike when Contract Ends on Jan. 31

By an 85% margin, Costco workers have authorized a strike by the 18,000 employees who are members of the Teamsters Union, to take effect on Jan. 31, 2025 when their current contract runs out.

“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 in a statement. “From day one, we’ve told Costco that our members won’t work a day past January 31 without a historic, industry-leading agreement. Costco’s greedy executives have less than two weeks to do the right thing. If they refuse, they’ll have no one to blame but themselves when our members go on strike.”

Earlier this month, the union held practice pickets in several locations: in Hayward, Calif. and Sumner, Wash.; on Long Island, N.Y.; and in San Diego. Costco workers in Norfolk, Va. joined the Teamsters union in January 2024 and authorized a strike in July 2024.

The Teamsters held strategic strikes at seven Amazon facilities during the recent holiday season, and workers at a Philadelphia Whole Foods Market voted to unionize in November 2024.