Drivers Unite for Union Voice in Wholesale
Retailer's Backyard
SUMNER,
Wash., April 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- More than
150 Costco drivers in Sumner,
Wash., voted overwhelmingly yesterday to join Teamsters
Local 174, becoming the first-ever group of workers at a Costco
Distribution Center to organize with the Teamsters. They are
seeking strong representation to address years of workplace
concerns under the backing of a Teamsters contract. Key issues
include wages, retirement, and a lack of seniority and grievance
procedure.
"Costco isn't the company it once was. The culture has shifted
dramatically the past few years. Management told us they heard our
concerns, but they weren't listening. We were tired of being
ignored," said Paul Lowrie, a
three-year driver at Costco and new Teamster. "My fellow drivers
and I knew that the only way to reclaim control of our future and
make things better was by joining the Teamsters."
Lowrie and his co-workers will now join more than 18,000 Costco
Teamsters nationwide.
The win in Washington follows
the Teamsters' historic organizing victory at the wholesaler in
December 2023, when 200 Costco
workers in Norfolk, Va., became
the first group to win union representation at the Seattle-based company in over two decades.
"Costco workers across the country are seeing the power that
comes with being a Teamster. They want stronger protections, better
retirement benefits, a strong grievance process, and a real voice
on the job," said Tom Erickson,
Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division and Teamsters Central
Region International Vice President. "Workers know firsthand that
Costco isn't the same company it used to be, and they understand
that the only way to prevent more backsliding is by becoming
Teamsters."
In October 2022, the Teamsters
ratified the first-ever national master agreement for Costco
workers. The national contract boosts wages and pension
contributions by the employer and provides members with higher
semi-annual bonuses and a more flexible attendance policy, among
other workplace protections and improvements.
Costco workers in Seattle and
Norfolk cited the national
contract and a changing corporate culture as the catalyst for
organizing with the Teamsters. The national contract expires
January 31, 2025.
"This historic vote means these drivers will be the first Costco
distribution drivers in the country to be union members. The
importance of this simply cannot be overstated, as it will
encourage other Costco drivers to follow the path forged by these
brave and strong new Teamsters," said Rick
Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 174 and Teamsters
Western Region International Vice President. "We are proud of the
tireless work done by the organizing committee, as they quite
literally worked day and night to show Costco workers the value of
being a Teamster. Local 174 welcomes our new members with open
arms."
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto
Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on
Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at
Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Daniel Moskowitz, (770)
262-4971
dmoskowitz@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters