Inflight Catering Workers Ratify New 3-Year Agreement

Members of UNITE HERE Local 40 working for inflight caterer Gate Gourmet ratified their new three-year contract this week.  The new agreement achieves significant wage increases, restores overtime on the 6th and 7th days of work, provides new protection for sick and injured workers, and covers increases in medical costs.

The new agreement narrowly averted a strike by inflight catering workers at Vancouver International Airport.  Local 40, which represents 400 food preparation workers and drivers at Gate Gourmet, had issued a 72-hour strike notice on August 16.

“After weeks of hard bargaining, we’ve got a deal that addresses the rising cost of living in Vancouver as well as other respect issues in the workplace.  Going forward, we are happy to settle a contract that will make sure workers can securely take part in the company’s growing prosperity,” said Phillip Lin, a member of the Union bargaining committee and a high lift driver at Gate Gourmet.