Negotiators have reached a near last-minute deal, averting the possibility of a strike at airline caterer Gate Gourmet. The 8,000 workers, represented by four unions, were released from mediation by the National Mediation Board and were free to strike at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30. The tentative agreement provides employees with industry-leading benefits, including an improved healthcare plan and wage increases. The company, Gategourmet, expressed optimism for a renewed partnership and long-term stability under the agreement.
The deal was first reported on the website View From The Wing. A strike would have limited meal service to passengers, but gategourmet and the carriers had been making contingency plans. Gategourmet is the largest caterer in both the wider world and the U.S., operating kitchens at 30 airports. Key issues in the negotiations were health care benefits and wages. Gategourmet’s principal competitor, LSG Sky Chefs, is also in negotiations with Unite Here. Both companies’ contracts became amendable on Dec. 31, 2018, and contract talks were delayed by the pandemic.
According to a Teamsters tweet, the tentative agreement at Gate Gourmet addresses key demands for wages and healthcare, successfully averting a major nationwide strike. The breakthrough followed a series of ‘ready to strike’ rallies and a credible strike threat, bringing the company back to the table with a fair offer for more than 8,000 workers at 30 airports across the country. Workers will continue to report to work as normal. The company stated that the two sides will begin finalizing contract language so the union can share the agreement with its members and send the agreement out for ratification.
Unite Here, with more than 5,000 members, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with about 3,000 members, were among the unions involved in the negotiations. Other workers were represented by BCTGM, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, as well as RWDSU, the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union. Gategourmet expressed its commitment to recognizing its valued employees and working towards a successful partnership with the unions. The company has been negotiating in good faith for several years to reach a labor agreement that benefits its employees.
Catering companies like Gategourmet provide meals, drinks, and sanitary service to airlines, preparing meals in kitchens near airports and servicing aircraft between flights. The company operates at 30 airports across the U.S., including major hubs like Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas, New York, and Los Angeles. With the tentative agreement in place, workers can continue providing essential services to airlines and passengers. While negotiations were delayed by the pandemic, efforts to reach fair agreements between the unions and catering companies were successful in averting a potentially disruptive strike.
