Summary

Over 18,000 Costco workers represented by the Teamsters union voted to authorize a nationwide strike, with 85% supporting the move.

The union demands “fair wages and benefits” after Costco reported $254 billion in annual revenue and $7.4 billion in profits, a 135% increase since 2018.

Teamsters set a January 31 deadline for a new contract, warning of a strike if demands are unmet.

Workers held practice pickets across the U.S., emphasizing their role in Costco’s success and urging the company to negotiate an “industry-leading agreement.”

    • surewhynotlem@lemmy.world
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      20 hours ago

      The bar in America is so low they tripped over it.

      I mean, credit where it’s due, they’re great for a US grocery chain. But it can be better.

    • Zetta@mander.xyz
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      2 days ago

      They absolutely are compared to the American average, but I’m not sure if they are great amongst other 1st world nations

      • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I have never come across someone working for an american company in America that is on better benefits. Sure they have great sounding things and sometimes huge wages, at a high level the US pays more. But I speak to people who work 10 extra hours a week so the can take five days altogether in the summer. I have to take a two week block during the summer and I then have 3 wreks to play with after that

  • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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    2 days ago

    Well, kinda weird turn of events because I swear last few month my feeds have been spammed how great Costco is to their worker.

    So I am guessing there were trouble in the paradise and costco paid “influencers” for these segments to soften the American public.

    I hope the union gets their demands met, fuck the corpo trash.

    • unconfirmedsourcesDOTgov@lemmy.sdf.org
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      2 days ago

      Can’t the fact that they have a union that is able to take these sorts of actions serve as proof that they’re already ahead of their competitors? Can’t imagine a similar headline at Walmart, and we know how well unionizing has been going at Amazon…

      • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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        2 days ago

        They are still a mega corp and they have a union because their workers got it done.

        I never side with a corpo on issues of labour. They don’t pay me, they pay lobbyist

    • Delphia@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      They are an employer with decent ethics and ok benefits employing low and no skill workers, those arent super common. They are where the minimum standard should be, not the high water mark.

      But the workers do have a fair point. 10% of the 7.4 billion profit divided evenly across every costco staff member globally (316,000) would be approximately $2.3k each (round numbers for easy math)

      • sunzu2@thebrainbin.org
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        2 days ago

        And the only “person” hurt from this are the shareholders lol

        So in my book, this is a win win…

        God willing they secure their much deserved raise!

        This what a class war W looks like folks!

    • chingadera@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      As far as retail goes, it’s very likely the best company to work for. That said, it can always be better.

  • Let's Go 2 the Mall!@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I just signed up at costco. Haven’t paid the membership fee yet. I mostly plan on online ordering. Gonna wait and see before I pay anything.

    • TrueStoryBob@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Do whatever you feel you need to do (it’s your money), but check to see if the union is asking people to not sign up first. They may not want folks to stop signing up or to cancel their memberships. Part of their bargaining tool kit is basically “see, the company’s customer base is growing, almost all of that can be attributed to us the people actually working, you need to pay us more/give better benefits.”

      If the union folks feel that a customer/memeber boycott is necessary, they’ll call for it.

      • Let's Go 2 the Mall!@lemmy.world
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        21 hours ago

        doesn’t look like they have said anything about that. Costco has until the 31st to respond. I’ll keep searching but the teamsters website only says they plan to strike. didn’t have a lot of information. we’ll know in 10 days I suppose.