As the contract deadline approaches, thousands of Costco workers are preparing to strike, with their current agreement set to expire soon. In response to looming labor actions, Costco plans to raise hourly pay for most store workers to over $30, including non-union employees. However, this move has left 18,000 union members awaiting similar raises. The Teamsters union is mobilizing for a potential nationwide strike, amid concerns over compensation and contract negotiations. Despite the pay increase initiative, many employees question whether it will be sufficient to avert the strike, as tensions rise ahead of the midnight deadline.