(Toronto) Gate Gourmet, an airline meal supplier, has reached a tentative agreement with workers on strike for nearly two weeks, meaning travelers transiting through Toronto could soon find a full menu on airlines again. flights.
A ratification vote will take place throughout the day Monday. If they approve the deal, employees would return to work Tuesday, Teamsters Canada said.
About 800 catering workers at Toronto’s Pearson Airport began walking out on April 16, leaving thousands of passengers without meals.
These employees cook, package and deliver food and drinks to planes for service on board. Air Canada and WestJet must limit meal offerings due to work stoppage.
The tentative agreement comes after Ontario mediators called strikers back to the bargaining table Friday for talks with Swiss company Gate Gourmet.
The company declined to comment on developments Monday morning.
When the strike began, Air Canada said short-haul flights would be most affected. The airline explained that economy class customers on flights shorter than two hours would receive a pretzel or cookie with water, while those in business class would not receive their usual hot meal service.
WestJet warned two weeks ago that food and beverage availability for flights passing through Toronto Pearson International Airport on Boeing 737 planes – the vast majority of its fleet – “may be affected.”
Gate Gourmet is the largest airline catering company operating in Toronto, with clients including Air Canada, WestJet, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Owned by Gategroup, it operates in more than 135 locations in 33 countries, according to its website. These figures include eight airports in Canada.
Details of the agreement in principle, finalized by negotiators over the weekend, will not be made public until workers have had the opportunity to review it, the union said Sunday evening.