Toronto Pearson Catering Strike Forecast: Pack a Lunch

The catering strike disrupting flights at Toronto Pearson Airport is showing no signs of slowing down.

On April 16, Gate Gourmet workers walked off the job after voting 96% to reject the company’s final offer. After returning to negotiations on Friday, the parties left the bargaining table without coming to an agreement. No new bargaining dates have been set. 

According to representatives from both sides, the negotiations have hit a standstill.

“Gate Gourmet Canada has presented to the union our best offer, which reflects the constraints we face as a business,” a spokesperson for the company told TMR. “As the strike continues, we are becoming less optimistic about a negotiated settlement.”

Teamsters Local Union 647 represents the approximately 800 Gate Gourmet workers, who are responsible for producing, packing, and delivering in-flight meals, snacks, and beverages at Pearson. While this isn’t the only catering company at the Toronto airport, it is the largest. 

Guests with upcoming Air Canada and WestJet flights to or from Pearson may want to plan ahead for limited food and beverage options on board.

So far, Air Canada has been the most impacted by the strike. Teamsters alleges the work stoppage caused major delays to long-haul flights, and there have been reports of international flights with only pretzels and water available on board. 

In a statement, Air Canada said there “has been only minimal impact on our international services,” and that “a contingency plan that is now fully in place to ensure our customers have food or snacks and a beverage or water on board.”   

WestJet released a statement on April 15, warning customers that some flights departing or arriving at Pearson may have “inconsistent food or beverage offering” due to the strike. According to a representative, WestJet has not experienced any strike-related flight delays to date.

Why Gate Gourmet workers are on strike
According to Teamsters spokesperson Christopher Monette, the Gate Gourmet workers’ rates are on average $2 to $6 less per hour than what other comparable airline caterer companies pay.

“We again call on Gate Gourmet to align their wage rates with industry standards. Pay our member on par with other airline catering workers at Pearson,” said Martin Cerqua, the president of Teamsters Local Union 647.

Gate Gourmet challenges this assessment. “As it stands, we presently pay compensation consistent with (if not the highest) any airline caterer at Pearson and that will increase by 12% under our proposed deal,” the spokesperson said. 

The company also expressed concern for the strike’s impact: “As the strike continues, we are becoming less optimistic about a negotiated settlement. We have made clear to the Union the consequences of a strike that lasts any longer than it already has. A prolonged strike threatens our work at Pearson.”