Nearly 500 Costco workers in Virginia and Washington state have joined the Teamsters Union.

The organizing victories mean that Costco workers in Norfolk Local 822 will be covered by the Teamster national contract at Costco and get a Teamster pension from the Western Conference of Teamsters pension plan.

Seattle Local 174 Distribution Drivers are fighting for a first contract. They authorized a strike if necessary.

Costco is one of the biggest employers in the US. Of their 200,000 employees, around 10 percent are represented by the Teamsters.

Store workers in Norfolk and drivers in Sumner, Washington, said that Costco had become a more unfair and abusive employer over the past few decades, as managers compete over the bottom line.

Costco tried to keep Norfolk Costco Teamsters out of the national master agreement and force them into a separate contract with no pension.

But members held the line. They voted “no” to reject Costco’s offer and voted to authorize a strike.

Costco folded and agreed to bring the new Norfolk members into the national agreement.

With a national master contract in place, more Costco organizing committees are forming in the Midwest.

The Costco contract expires January 31, 2025. With all Costco Teamsters united under one national contract, they will have more leverage at the bargaining table.