The Costco Teamsters approved a strike if a contract agreement is not met by Jan. 31, when its current deal with the retailer expires. The union represents more than 18,000 employees nationwide. A union representing thousands of Costco employees voted to authorize a strike,

Thousand of Costco Teamsters across the U.S. are preparing to strike by the end of the month if the company does not present a "fair contract offer," the union says.

Members of the Teamsters union have authorized a strike against Costco on February 1 unless they reach a deal with the warehouse retailer before the current contract expires 31.