Teamsters and Costco at an Impasse Ahead of Contract Deadline 

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters has announced that negotiations with Costco reached an abrupt standstill on January 7, 2025.

Tension ignited with parties after Teamsters filed unfair labor practice charges against the company, citing incidents such as the expulsion of union representatives, harassment of employees wearing union buttons, removal of union literature, and changes to locks on union bulletin boards.

After weeks of discord, Costco rejected several key proposals put forth by the Teamsters, including vital language concerning seniority, inclement weather policies, paid family leave, bereavement policies...

Impact of the EU-Mercosur Agreement on EU Beef Market

After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, reached a landmark free-trade and cooperation agreement on December 6, 2024. In 2023, EU agri-food exports to Mercosur totalled €3.2 billion, and the new EU-Mercosur Free-Trade Agreement aims to substantially increase these exports by removing high tariffs on key EU export products. The following article examines the potential impact of the deal on the beef market...

Costco Refuses to Accept 98 Percent of Teamsters Proposals

Yesterday, Costco rejected or refused to accept nearly all Teamsters' proposals, including critical language on seniority, inclement weather, paid family leave, bereavement policies, sick time, and safeguards against surveillance. By dismissing approximately 98 percent of the proposed provisions, the wholesale giant has signaled a troubling unwillingness to bargain in good faith and is taking an aggressive anti-union stance.

"The clock is ticking, and instead of engaging seriously at the bargaining table, Costco continues to waste time with surface bargaining," said...

NCC Joins in Urging ILA, US Maritime Alliance to Return to Bargaining Table

NCC recently joined hundreds of organizations representing American manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, in a letter urging both the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance to return to the bargaining table with the goal of reaching a new labor contract before the new Jan. 15 contract expiration date.

“We know significant issues remain between the parties,” the groups wrote. “However, we continue to believe the only...