Pearson Toronto airport catering workers strike

The Food Workers' Representative Union has announced it will officially go on strike after the final offer made by catering company Gate Gourmet was rejected.

The union announced last week that more than 800 of the company's employees work out of Toronto's Pearson Airport, and nearly 99 percent of them voted in favor of the strike.

On Monday night, 96% of staff rejected the final offer and the strike officially began at 12:01am today.

This proposal failed to resolve the employees' concerns about wages; These employees are responsible for cooking, packing, and delivering meals, snacks, drinks, and other supplies to aircraft for in-flight service.

In this regard, Air Canada will be hit the hardest, and many flights from Pearson Airport will fly without food and beverage service.

Airlines affected by the strike include: Air Canada, WestJet, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Air India, Aero Mexico, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Jet Lines.

According to the union, the strike will disrupt 230 to 250 flights a day, or roughly 25 percent of daily flights from Toronto's Pearson Airport.

Employees at Toronto's Gate Gourmet are said to be paid well below industry standards, about $17.69 to $20 an hour, and are demanding a raise.

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