Striking airline catering workers reach deal, union says

Toronto·New

The union representing some 800 striking airline catering staff at Toronto’s Pearson airport says it has reached a tentative agreement with employer Gate Gourmet.

800 workers walked off the job on April 16

Striking Gate Gourmet employees walk a picket line at Pearson airport on April 16, 2024.
The roughly 800 food service workers went on strike April 16. (Paul Smith/CBC)

The union representing some 800 striking airline catering staff at Toronto’s Pearson airport says it has reached a tentative agreement with employer Gate Gourmet.

Teamsters Local Union 647 said the deal was reached Sunday and members will vote on it Monday.

If accepted, the workers, who cook, package and deliver food and beverages to planes for service on board, could be back on the job Tuesday.

The vote could end a two-week labour disruption that forced Air Canada and WestJet to limit meal options for passengers and lead to significant delays for some flights from the country’s busiest airport.

The two sides were called back to the bargaining by provincially-appointed mediators on April 19.

Teamsters previously said the main sticking point was what they characterized as unfairly low wage increases after workers’ wages were frozen during the COVID pandemic.

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