Food Strike at YYZ

[Malcolm]

Food service strike: Air Canada, WestJet refine menus at Toronto Pearson

By Aaron D'Andrea  Global News

Posted April 16, 2024 7:56 am

 Updated April 16, 2024 10:23 am

 3 min read

More than 800 workers responsible for providing food and beverages on flights leaving Toronto Pearson International Airport are on strike.

The Gate Gourmet workers, an airline catering and logistics company, went on strike Tuesday after voting 96 per cent to reject a final offer from the company, Teamsters Local Union 647 said in a statement.

“Our members accepted a wage freeze during the pandemic to help this company survive,” said Martin Cerqua, lead union negotiator and president of Local Union 647.

“Now their managers brag about how profitable their operations have become at Pearson, while proposing wage increases as low as 89 cents an hour.”merican peers: reports

The union expects many flights leaving Toronto will have little to no food on board; impacted airlines include WestJet, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Air India, Aero Mexico, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Jetlines, as well as Air Canada, which the union said will be most affected by the strike.

The union added Gate Gourmet workers are paid on average between $17.69 and $20 per hour, below other airline catering companies in Toronto and Gate Gourmet workers in Vancouver. The union also claims slashed staffing levels have put workers at risk.

 

In a statement, Gate Gourmet Canada said it’s “disappointed” that a strike is underway.

 

 

1:38Busy summer travel season has begun at Toronto’s largest airport

“On Friday, the union informed us that they would cease negotiations and demanded a final offer, which Gate Gourmet Canada presented. The union walked away from the negotiating table, despite our belief that Gate Gourmet’s offer is fair and market competitive,” it said, adding the company was offering a 12 per cent pay raise over three years.

“At our operation in Toronto, we have established contingency plans with our airline customers to minimize any impact on them and their passengers. We remain committed to doing right by our employees and ending the strike so that we can continue to partner with our airlines customers and serve the travelling public.”

Air Canada, WestJet respond to strike

Air Canada and WestJet, Canada’s largest airlines, said in separate statements they’ve prepared for the work stoppage.

“We anticipate there will be no impact on our international flights, but we plan to make some adjustments to food and beverage service on certain North American flights departing from and, in some cases on shorter routes, returning to Toronto,” an Air Canada spokesperson told Global News Toronto in a statement Tuesday.

“Short-haul flights of less than two hours duration being most impacted.”

 

 

2:37Travel Tips: WestJet summer 2024 service

The airline added that flights over two hours within North America will have fewer menu options, while flights under two hours will not have hot meals available; snacks and water service will remain.

 

Meanwhile, WestJet said its Boeing 737 flights leaving Pearson will be impacted.

“Guests who are eligible to receive an inflight meal including those in the Premium cabin or extended comfort seating, and all guests travelling on transatlantic flights will receive either an alternative option or a food and beverage voucher for use in the terminal, pre-departure,” the company said in a statement on its website.

“In addition, WestJet is advising guests travelling to or from Toronto to plan ahead and bring an extra snack and/or beverage for their journey.”

[Malcolm]

Airline catering company at Toronto Pearson reaches tentative agreement: union

By Gabby Rodrigues  Global News

Posted April 29, 2024 4:38 am Updated April 29, 2024 4:42 am

RELATED: More than 800 union employees at Gate Gourmet, one of Toronto Pearson airport's largest airline catering companies, have begun strike action. Jaden Lee-Lincoln has more – Apr 16, 2024

The union representing workers responsible for food and beverages on flights out of Toronto Pearson Airport says it has reached a tentative agreement with its company Gate Gourmet.

In a statement on Sunday, Teamsters Local Union 647 said a tentative agreement was reached and members are voting on it Monday.

Although the agreement still needs to be ratified the union said its bargaining committee is recommending members vote to accept it.

“I would like to thank our members for their incredible courage and solidarity, and salute everyone who supported us throughout this process,” said Martin Cerqua, president of Teamsters Local Union 647.

More than 800 workers walked off the job almost two weeks ago after 96 per cent voted against the previous proposed agreement.

The union said the workers are in charge of cooking, packing, and delivering meals as well as snacks, beverages and other supplies to planes for in-flight service.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT

The airlines affected by the strike include Air Canada, West Jet, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Air India, Aero Mexico, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and Jetlines.

Details of the agreement have not yet been released as union members are reviewing the offer.

If the agreement is accepted, the union said workers will return to work on Tuesday, April 30.

[conehead]

I didn’t think that would go on for much longer.

[Malcolm]

Toronto Pearson food service workers return to job after ratifying tentative deal

By Staff  The Canadian Press

Posted April 30, 2024 8:09 am

View image in full screen

 

Airline caterer Gate Gourmet says its employees have voted in favour of a tentative deal with management, putting them back on the job as soon as today.

About 800 food service workers at Toronto’s Pearson airport went on strike on April 16, leaving thousands of passengers without meals.

The employees cook, package and deliver food and drinks to planes for service on board, with Air Canada and WestJet having to limit meal offerings during the two-week job action.

Gate Gourmet says it will return to regular operations at Pearson “as soon as possible.”

The collective agreement comes after Ontario mediators called picketing workers back to the table Friday for talks with the Swiss-owned company.

Gate Gourmet is the largest airline catering company operating out of Toronto, with clients that include United Airlines and Delta Air Lines and operations across 33 countries, including eight airports in Canada.