Union says workers will be back to work this week if vote ratifies new agreement
Airline catering company Gate Gourmet has reached a tentative agreement with food service workers who have been on strike for nearly two weeks now.
Around 800 catering employees at the Toronto Pearson International Airport walked off the job on April 16, as they asked for better wages and safer working conditions.
Teamsters Canada said the striking workers will return to work this week if the deal is approved through a ratification vote held throughout Monday.
The tentative agreement was reached over the weekend after the Gate Gourmet renewed negotiations with last Friday, according to The Canadian Press, prompted by Ontario mediators who called workers back to the table.
Details of the tentative deal have not yet been made public, with the union opting to first present the terms to its members.
In a statement released Sunday night, Martin Cerqua, president of the local union, thanked members for their solidarity and resilience during the strike.
“I would like to thank our members for their incredible courage and solidarity, and salute everyone who supported us throughout this process,” he said.
Swiss-owned Gate Gourmet stands as the largest provider of airline catering services out of Toronto, serving several major airlines including Air Canada, WestJet, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. The striking workers are responsible for cooking, packaging, and delivering food and beverages directly to aircraft.
During the strike, Air Canada said it had to modify its meal offerings on short-haul flights, providing only snacks like pretzels or cookies and water to economy class passengers, while business class passengers missed out on their usual hot meals.
Similarly, WestJet reported inconsistencies in its food and beverage services on flights operating through Pearson, particularly on its Boeing 737 fleet.
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