More flights could leave Pearson with 'little or no food' if catering workers strike at midnight: union

The airline's food workers' union, Gate Gourmet, says negotiations with the airline have completely broken down and strike action is “inevitable”.

Teamsters Local Union 647 reported Nearly 99 percent of the company's 800-plus workers out of Toronto Pearson Airport voted to strike last week.

Workers are tasked with preparing, packing, and delivering food, snacks, beverages, and other supplies to aircraft for in-flight service.

Director of Public Relations Christopher Monette told CityNews the company has given them a “final proposal” for the membership to vote on Monday.

He said the offer would not address their salary concerns and he expected them to reject it. Voting ends at 10pm and workers will walk off the job at 12:01am on Tuesday if rejected.

The union says workers at Gate Gourmet in Toronto are being paid well below industry standards, at between $17.69 and $20 an hour, and wants to close the gap.

“The cost of living crisis in the GTA is severe, some at Gate Gourmet are now struggling to pay rent and buy groceries. Even so, the company suspended negotiations this weekend and presented a “final offer” that includes an hourly increase of up to 89 cents, union president Martin Cerqua said. “That leaves us with no choice but to strike on Tuesday.”

Airlines potentially 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.

“The labor dispute will be devastating, with Air Canada the worst hit. We expect many flights to leave Pearson with little or no food,” Monette said in a statement.

A Teamsters Canada spokesperson confirmed to CityNews last week that the walkout will disrupt 230 to 250 flights a day, which equates to about 25 percent of the daily flights that go through Toronto Pearson.