Achi news desk-
Some flights may be leaving Toronto Pearson International Airport with “less or no food” after workers preparing meals for in-flight service walked off the job on Tuesday, the union representing employees.
Teamsters Local Union 647, which represents more than 800 workers at the airline’s catering company Gate Gourmet, said workers began striking at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday after members rejected the final offer from the company.
“Our members received a pay freeze during the pandemic to help this company survive. Now their management is bragging about how profitable their operations have become at Pearson, while offering wage increases as low as 89 cents an hour,” Martin Cerqua, chief union negotiator and president of Local Union 647, said in a written statement.
Workers were seen on the picket line outside Gate Gourmet on Britannia Road East in Mississauga on Tuesday morning.
In a statement released Monday, the union said the labor dispute will be “very disruptive,” noting that Air Canada will be “most affected by the strike.”
Air Canada said it has developed contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the strike.
In a statement to CP24, the airline said it expects “no impact” on international flights but that some adjustments will be made to food and beverage service on some North American flights leaving Toronto.
In some cases on shorter routes, Air Canada said, adjustments will also need to be made to flights returning to Toronto from other cities.
Short-haul flights of less than two hours are “most affected,” the company said, and customers will be advised “directly” of any changes to food and beverage service.
For flights over two hours in North America, customers in signature class, business class, and premium economy class will be served hot meals but with fewer menu options. Pre-ordering will be suspended and special meal offerings will be limited to Kosher.
“Passengers with dietary restrictions are advised to plan ahead,” Air Canada said.
In economy class, snack and beverage service will be provided with Air Canada Bistro items and alcoholic beverages available for purchase.
For flights under two hours in North America, hot meals will no longer be offered in business class and service will be modified to include a “snack basket” and water service. In economy class, passengers will be provided with a packaged light snack along with water, the airline said.
The union said other airlines affected by the strike include United Airlines, Delta Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Air India, Aero Mexico, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Jetlines, and WestJet.
Last week, WestJet said it had also taken steps to mitigate a possible strike.
“…our Catering Team has proactively prepared contingency plans to mitigate the impact on WestJet’s operations in Toronto, to ensure we can continue to provide food and beverage to our guests on our aircraft,” a spokesperson told CP24.
In a statement sent Monday, Gate Gourmet said operations across Canada and globally “remain unaffected.”
“Gate Gourmet Canada encourages our valued employees to vote in favor of the final offer (presented to them at the request of the Union) which we believe addresses their expressed wishes regarding wages, benefits and working conditions in the unit – including a 12% pay rise. over three years,” the statement read.
“At our Toronto operation, we have established contingency plans with our airline customers to minimize any impact on them and their passengers.”
