Thousands of Gate Gourmet Airline Food Workers at 30 U.S. Airports Ratify Historic New Union Contract
NATIONWIDE—Over 8,000 union workers employed by airline catering subcontractor Gate Gourmet at 30 U.S. Airports have officially ratified a new five-year union contract that will bring significant raises and better, affordable health care, among other benefits. Voting to ratify the new contract concluded on Wednesday, capping a negotiating process that began in 2017.
Workers at Gate Gourmet are members of labor unions UNITE HERE, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM), and the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). They are represented by the IBT/HERE Employee Representatives’ Council.
Gate Gourmet employees had been preparing to strike since late June, when the National Mediation Board released them from federal mediation, declaring that all practical methods to reach an agreement under the Railway Labor Act had been exhausted. A 30-day “cooling-off” period was set to expire on July 30th and upon expiration workers would have been free to self-help—which includes strike activity. Just days before the expiration, both parties reached a tentative agreement.
Airline catering workers prepare, pack, and deliver food and beverages to aircraft departing airports across the country. The new agreement brings substantial improvements commensurate with the essential nature of their work, which requires skill and precision to prevent flight delays and ensure food safety. Highlights include raising the minimum wage nationwide to $17 per hour, a new quality, affordable healthcare plan, a new wage structure that increases year to year and rewards both years of service and job skills. Workers will also receive additional sick time and better equipment to keep them safe when working in extreme temperatures, from refrigerated food prep rooms to hot airport tarmacs.
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The Employee Representatives’ Council (ERC) of Gate Gourmet is comprised of UNITE HERE and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. With the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM), and the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), the ERC represents over 8,000 food service workers employed by Gate Gourmet.