The workers didn’t need to strike. Costco is notoriously an amazing employer to work for. They have some of the lowest turnover in the industry. The CEO often gets grilled in earnings calls on things like employee costs and he always rebuts that happy employees are productive. I am very pro unions but this is one of those examples of a good employer.
I’m not that disappointed, its the reality of the system we have. Even senior management have to protect their jobs. They resisted just enough to be able to sell to the shareholders “Did you want a strike? Did you want workers picketing? You want those optics?”
The system we have sucks, thats undeniable. But this is just the process.
Yup, exactly. C-level is beholden to shareholders, who would pay minimum wage if given the option. Management held out just long enough for the union to start threatening a strike, when then gave justification for the increase. It’s a big dog and pony show, and every person played their part to keep the shareholders placated.
The workers didn’t need to strike. Costco is notoriously an amazing employer to work for. They have some of the lowest turnover in the industry. The CEO often gets grilled in earnings calls on things like employee costs and he always rebuts that happy employees are productive. I am very pro unions but this is one of those examples of a good employer.
Thats a bit disingenuous. The workers DID have to threaten to strike. This raise didnt just come out of the blue as a benevolent gesture.
But this is how give and take should work with employers.
I hadn’t heard that but with more research, you are correct: they had to threaten a strike. I am disappointed to hear that.
https://apnews.com/article/costco-teamsters-union-strike-ce27314fa42af3e7ffff236867ec4cff
Union organizing has ticked up but overall membership is still falling.
Costco only recently has had to deal with string of labor actions
I’m not that disappointed, its the reality of the system we have. Even senior management have to protect their jobs. They resisted just enough to be able to sell to the shareholders “Did you want a strike? Did you want workers picketing? You want those optics?”
The system we have sucks, thats undeniable. But this is just the process.
Yup, exactly. C-level is beholden to shareholders, who would pay minimum wage if given the option. Management held out just long enough for the union to start threatening a strike, when then gave justification for the increase. It’s a big dog and pony show, and every person played their part to keep the shareholders placated.