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.
C-level is beholden to shareholders, who would pay minimum wage if given the option.
They'd pay less than that. "Minimum wage" means "I'd pay you less, but I can't because it's illegal." Hell, workers had to fight for weekends, they'd happily take that away and put kids back in factories if they could.