The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which represents more than 10,000 Costco workers, authorized a nationwide strike to occur in February.

This story was originally published on Supermarketnews.

With a master agreement with the Teamsters set to expire in 10 days, affecting 18,000 of the retailer's workers, hundreds last week held practice pickets.

The more than 18,000 Costco Wholesale employees represented by the Teamsters union voted overwhelmingly to authorize a nationwide strike should they not reach a new labor agreement by the end of the month.

Costco Teamsters nationwide have voted by an 85% margin to authorize a strike on Feb. 1 if its labor dispute over fair wages and benefits is not resolved. The Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement, covering more than 18,000 Costco workers, expires on Jan. 31.

Teamsters for Costco Wholesale voted to authorize a strike ahead of an agreement ending on Jan. 31, the union group announced.

The union, which represents more than 18,000 workers at Costco, said 85% of its members voted to authorize a strike.

The Costco Teamsters National Master Agreement, which covers more than 18,000 workers nationwide, expires on January 31.

More than 18,000 Costco workers will be walking picket lines in less than two weeks if a labor dispute over wages and benefits is not resolved, according to the Teamsters union. Members voted by an 85% margin to authorize a strike when their current contract expires on Jan.