(NORFOLK, VIRGINIA) – Costco Workers in Norfolk, Virginia have voted overwhelmingly to join Teamsters Local 822, marking the Union’s first organizing victory at the Wholesale Retailer in two decades.

The 238 Worker decided to Go Union in order to get strong representation to address years of concerns and improve working conditions. 

“This campaign was all about standing together as a group and taking control over our well-being in our workplace,” said Damion Thomas, a Front-End Cashier at Costco who served on the Organizing Committee. “We can’t wait to be covered under a strong Teamster contract that will give us a ‘real voice and bring real change’ to the job.” 

Thomas and his Co-Workers will now join more than 18,000 Teamsters at Costco nationwide. 

James Wright, who serves as President of Local 822 and is an International Vice President At-Large, said: “Costco Workers saw the ‘new energy’ at the International under the O’Brien-Zuckerman Administration and they wanted in.  I’d like to thank the Teamsters Warehouse Division and Organizing Department for their support throughout this campaign.  Most of all, I want to thank the Workers for standing strong.  This campaign was all about boots on the ground. These Workers understood the power that comes with being a Teamster.”

In October 2022, the Teamsters ratified a first-ever National Master Agreement for Costco Workers, which 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 improvements.

Many Costco Workers in Norfolk cited the National Contract as a catalyst for organizing. 

“This historic victory will reverberate across the Nation.  Every Costco Worker in the U.S. needs to get on board and join the Teamsters,” said Tom Erickson, who serves as Director of the Teamsters Warehouse Division and Teamsters Central Region International Vice President. “Together, as Teamsters, we’ll make sure Costco lives up to the Worker-friendly image it likes to project to the public.”

The Teamsters represents 1.3 million Members in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

To Directly Access This Organizing Labor News Story, Go To: Costco Workers in Virginia Join Teamsters - International Brotherhood of Teamsters