this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2023
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Costco workers in Norfolk have unionised and Costco are seething.

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[–] [email protected] 176 points 11 months ago (6 children)

I feel Ike most people don't realize how Costco workers are treated which is important context for this letter. Costco literally looks like a union job on its surface, good pay, full benefits, good time off accrual rates. Like yeah i understand what the letter is saying. They already treat their workers as good as most unions are able to negotiate, I'd feel a little upset about it too if i was in that leadership. Not because they joined a union but because they felt like they needed to. Would make me wonder if there were poor conditions i wasn't aware of.

[–] [email protected] 125 points 11 months ago (1 children)

They couldn’t have worded this letter any better. It puts the responsibility on them (leadership) it says they did not think it was necessary but obviously they have some blind spots. It acknowledges the value of unions, and in no way demonizes them or the employees.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Welcome to Costco we love you.

-Honestly that's the most direct corporate statement I've seen so far, it feels real.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Ha! Agh, how did I miss this link?? 😂

[–] [email protected] 30 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Costco does have that ethos, but it's still essentially a benevolent dictatorship without the power dynamic of a union

[–] [email protected] 16 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It’s also a bit of a farce, Costco hide behind their ethos while handing out no more than 3% raises a year and that’s for exceptional work. They just paid out a dividend to shareholders too

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (2 children)

If you get 3% every year you're above average inflation over a career's length.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

Doesn't matter. A laborer somehow has to pull "exceptional" to even qualify, they can't trust that percentage to always be there, and CostCo is still a profiteering venture which means the execs are still stealing labor and pocketing surplus for themselves. No, that's not an adequate defense.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Oooooo above average inflation?! Man, what a time to be alive!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I mean, if you're getting richer and richer as time goes and retire at the point where your purchasing power is at the highest it's even been, then yeah, you're doing pretty good for yourself.

Central Banks aim for 1 to 3% year on year inflation, if you're at 3% year on year wage increase then you're golden, people with a collective agreement don't have that in most cases!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Nah, this time is exactly the right time to unionize. This way the company does not have to fight the Union and they can cooperate properly.

However, if under new management the company where to ever change her tune..........

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Y'know, it's really telling how anything that implies shifting the balance of power toward the worker has at least one downvote, whether immediately necessary, or a guarantee for the future. Someone here REALLY ISN'T HAPPY about labor tryna protect themselves

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Exactly. Why wait until your employer is hostile to try to unionize? It'll just be 10x harder then. If things are good this union will help make sure it stays that way.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

It does put it into perspective. Call me cynical or realistic, but something in me saw this as a nice trap for union-considerers. "Just talk about how you feel with your manager" -> at will fired.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

I literally thought they were a union job.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Probably promise of higher wages, their other benes are already on point.