3,500 East Coast Costco Workers Ratify New Contract

News provided by

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Mar 11, 2010, 03:23 ET

Three-Year Agreement Increases Wages, Bonuses

WASHINGTON, March 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Approximately 3,500 Costco Teamsters in New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Virginia ratified a new, three-year agreement that includes wage increases and annual guaranteed bonuses. The wage and bonus increases will maintain the members' distinction as the highest paid retail workers in the country.

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The ratification by East Coast Costco employees comes on the heels of ratification of a similar contract by 12,000 California Teamsters last month.

"Again, we see that the margin of ratification was the lowest in memory due to the members' dissatisfaction with Costco's refusal to give East Coast Costco Teamsters the same pension plan that Costco Teamsters enjoy in California," said negotiations chairman and International Vice President Rome Aloise. "This issue will not go away and we intend to continue to pursue this issue throughout the term of the agreement."

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters