Gate Gourmet workers at Pearson vote in favour of strike action

Workers who handle the cooking, packing and delivering of meals, snacks, beverages and other supplies to aircraft for in-flight services at Toronto Pearson Airport have voted 98.8 per cent in favour of strike action.

The 800 workers at Gate Gourment are members of Teamsters Local Union 647 and could take strike action as early as Tues., April 16, a move that could mean no food and beverages on many flights out of YYZ.

“We are in a cost-of-living crisis, but Gate Gourmet is ignoring their employees’ families’ basic needs and won’t agree to pay workers a living wage,” said Martin Cerqua, lead union negotiator and president of Teamsters Local Union 647. “We’re going on strike unless this company steps up to the plate and finally acknowledges how expensive life has gotten.”

Closing the pay gap

The union also made it clear that workers at Gate Gourmet in Toronto are paid well below industry standards and it is seeking to close that gap.

Gate Gourmet is by far the largest airline catering company operating out of Toronto, the union pointed out, noting that airlines that could be affected by a potential strike include Air Canada, WestJet, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Air India, Aero Mexico, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and Jetlines.

Teamsters Local Union 647 represents approximately 3,000 food industry workers across Ontario.

For more information, visit www.teamsters.ca.