Costco workers in Norfolk have unionised and Costco are seething.

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177 points

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.

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125 points

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.

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35 points

Welcome to Costco we love you.

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

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4 points

Ha! Agh, how did I miss this link?? 😂

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1 point

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

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16 points

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

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7 points

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

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14 points

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…

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5 points
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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

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1 point

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.

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7 points

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.

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5 points

I literally thought they were a union job.

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1 point

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

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