EVERETT — Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses in Snohomish County and the rest of Washington said they will strike if no agreement is reached by Jan. 31.
The 150 truck drivers are part of 18,000 Costco workers in six states represented by the Teamsters Union. Members voted Jan. 18 by an 85% margin to authorize a strike.
If the strike occurs, it would impact Costco warehouses in Washington, California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Virginia, where the Teamsters Union represents workers.
Washington could be less impacted than the other five states because the union only represents the truck drivers, not store employees as in the other states.
But one Washington Costco truck driver, Robert Campus, said the strike would have a heavy impact on shoppers who won’t be able to find their favorite food items in warehouse stores. He said the locations are dependent on several deliveries each day to keep up stock.
“The inventory would be depleted quickly,” said Campus, who regularly delivers Costco goods to warehouse stores in Everett, Lynnwood and Marysville. Costco has six warehouses in Snohomish County.
Costco representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
At issue, the union said, are wages, health and retirement benefits, paid family leave and the company’s bereavement policy. The union refused to spell out any details of the current contract and what it is seeking in a new agreement.
“Our members have spoken loud and clear — Costco must deliver a fair contract, or they’ll be held accountable,” said Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien in a statement.
Costco has never seen a strike and is known in the retail industry for paying better wages than many competitors.
But contract negotiations between Costco management and the Teamsters have gone since August without a resolution, prompting the Teamsters’ strike vote.
“The strike vote is a direct response to Costco’s greed and blatant disregard for the bargaining process,” said Tom Erickson, director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division, in a statement. “Costco claims to treat workers better than the competition, but right now, it’s failing to live up to that reputation.”
The union’s demands come as Costco has seen increased sales and profits over the last year. Company financials show Costco’s net sales in the latest quarter ending Nov. 24 increased 7.5 percent, to $60.99 billion from a year earlier. Net income reached almost $1.8 billion in the latest quarter, an increase of more than $200 million from the previous year’s quarter.
“Costco is doing financially well,” Campus said. “All we are asking for is a fair contract.”
Campus, who has worked as a Costco truck driver for the last 11 and a half years, said depot drivers only unionized two months ago.
He said a key issue in joining the union was a lack of pay raises for three years.
Randy Diamond: 425-339-3097; randy.diamond@heraldnet.com
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