Teamsters Prepare for Showdown with Costco as Deadline Looms

Teamsters Fight for Fair Agreement as January 31 Bargaining Deadline Looms

Press Contact: Daniel Moskowitz Phone: (770) 262-4971 Email: dmoskowitz@teamster.org

(LONG ISLAND, N.Y.) – Sean M. O’Brien, General Secretary-Treasurer Fred Zuckerman, Teamsters Warehouse Division Director Tom Erickson, and hundreds of Costco Teamsters rallied and engaged in a practice picket in Long Island, N.Y., as the final week of bargaining with the wholesale giant approaches.

“We are going to win the strongest collective bargaining agreement in the history of Costco,” O’Brien said. “Our members deserve nothing less. If we don’t have an acceptable contract by January 31, this company will face the full force of the Teamsters Union. Costco has two weeks to come to the table with a contract offer that honors the hard work and dedication of our members — or they will suffer the consequences of their inaction. If Costco fails to deliver, they’ll be striking themselves.”

The last round of negotiations begins Monday near Costco’s corporate headquarters in Issaquah, Washington. Costco Teamsters are demanding the strongest possible contract and are prepared to strike to secure it. The Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement expires on January 31, protecting more than 18,000 Teamsters.

“Today, Costco is a massive, multibillion-dollar corporation — one of the largest in the Fortune 500,” Zuckerman said. “And like too many companies, they’re putting profits over people. The Teamsters will not stand for it.”

Costco recently announced annual revenue of $254 billion and net profits of $7.4 billion — a 135 percent increase from $3.1 billion in 2018. Despite the record gains,Costco has yet to match its workers’ demandsfor fair wages and benefits.

“If Costco fails to present an acceptable agreement — one that reflects its record-breaking profits — we will hold them accountable,” Erickson said.

“We do not want to strike, but if Costco refuses to meet us at the bargaining table with the respect we deserve, we are ready to do whatever it takes,” said Lance Knowles, a Costco worker in New York and a member of Local 210. “We will not back down. We will not accept anything less than a contract that sets the standard in the retail industry.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at

In the final week of negotiations, the Teamsters are gearing up for a showdown with Costco as the January 31 bargaining deadline looms. With the company's record-breaking profits and the Teamsters' demands for fair wages and benefits, the stage is set for a potential labor dispute. The Teamsters, led by General Secretary-Treasurer Sean M. O'Brien, are prepared to take action if Costco fails to deliver an acceptable contract offer.

Costco's recent financial performance has been impressive, with annual revenue of $254 billion and net profits of $7.4 billion in 2024, a 135 percent increase from $3.1 billion in 2018. Despite these record gains, the company has yet to match its workers' demands for fair wages and benefits. The Teamsters are demanding the strongest possible contract and are prepared to strike to secure it.

The Teamsters' rally in Long Island, New York, and the upcoming negotiations near Costco's corporate headquarters in Issaquah, Washington, highlight the union's determination to win a fair agreement for its members. With the Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement set to expire on January 31, protecting more than 18,000 Teamsters, the union is prepared to hold the company accountable if it fails to present an acceptable agreement.

The Teamsters' fight for fair wages and benefits at Costco is part of a broader trend of workers demanding better treatment and compensation from corporations. As the Teamsters prepare for a potential showdown with Costco, they are sending a clear message to the company and other corporations: workers deserve a fair share of the profits they help generate.

As the negotiations continue, the Teamsters remain committed to securing the strongest possible contract for their members. With the support of their union and the determination to fight for fair wages and benefits, the Teamsters are ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead in their quest for a just agreement with Costco.