Aviation caterer Gate Gourmet reaches a provisional agreement with striking employees

TORONTO – Airline caterer Gate Gourmet has reached a tentative agreement with food service workers nearly two weeks after they left their jobs, meaning travelers via Toronto will soon be able to find a full menu option on flights again.

A ratification vote will take place on Monday and if workers approve the collective agreement, Teamsters Canada said employees will be back at work on Tuesday.

About 800 catering 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 onboard service, with Air Canada and WestJet having to limit meal offerings after the job.

The preliminary agreement comes after Ontario mediators called the strikers back to the table on Friday for talks with Switzerland’s Gate Gourmet.

The company declined to comment on the development on Monday morning.

When the strike started, Air Canada said short-haul flights would be the hardest hit. Economy class passengers on flights of less than two hours would receive a pretzel or cookie along with water, while business class passengers would not enjoy their usual hot meal service, the airline said.

WestJet said two weeks ago that flights operated through Pearson using Boeing 737 aircraft – the vast majority of its fleet – could experience “inconsistent food and beverage offerings.”

Gate Gourmet is the largest airline catering company operating out of Toronto, with clients including Air Canada, WestJet, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. It is owned by Gategroup and operates in more than 135 locations in 33 countries, according to its website. These figures include eight airports in Canada.

Details of the tentative deal — which was finalized by negotiators last weekend — were being kept from the public until workers had a chance to see them, the union said Sunday evening.

“I would like to thank our members for their incredible courage and solidarity, and salute everyone who has supported us throughout this process,” said Martin Cerqua, president of the local union, in a press release.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2024.

The Canadian Press