Activism on Menu for Airline Catering Teamsters

Activism on Menu for Airline Catering Teamsters

December 7, 2001

Before September 11th, Gate Gourmet employed more than 12,000 Teamsters. They prepared and delivered food for flights out of many of the nation’s busiest air hubs - Los Angeles, Denver, St. Louis, Orlando and Atlanta. They worked hard and supported their families.

But 3,000 were laid off in the wake of airlines’ post-9/11 decisions to cut back on in-flight food service. Still worse times are ahead unless things change soon. With these facts on the table, Teamsters from Gate Gourmet locals throughout the country convened in Washington on November 30.

First on the agenda was an update and request for continued cooperation from Gate Gourmet’s general counsel and its human resources managers. Since September 11, Gate Gourmet has operated under a series of temporary contract concessions, agreed to by the Teamsters, in an effort to keep the food flying. But this request for an extension of concessions led the Teamsters to present an update of their own, highlighting the actions of front line Gate Gourmet supervisors throughout the system that undermine their bosses’ plea for help. Management promised to be more aggressive in instructing its own people.

Once the corporate emissaries took their leave, Teamsters Warehouse Division Director Ken Hilbish led a strategy session on what further steps the union can take to win back Teamster jobs.

“The airlines are wrong,” said Hilbish. “They’ve put thousands of people out of work without really increasing anyone’s security. They’re making air travel more uncomfortable just to save a few dollars. September 11 is their excuse, but it’s not the real reason. The real reason is greed. They’ve been looking for a way to slash food service for years, and now they’ve found a way. We’ve got to get that word out.”

Activities the Teamsters leaders resolved to explore include informational picketing at selected airports and of selected airlines, lobbying members of Congress, submitting letters to newspapers and joint actions with members of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE).

HERE, which has also been hit hard by flight kitchen cutbacks, sent staff to participate in the Teamsters/Gate Gourmet meeting, helped with strategic planning and committed to continuing consultation and joint action.

“It’s got to be a broad-based campaign,” said Steve Vairma, secretary-treasurer of Denver Teamsters Local 435. “We need to do everything we can, whether it’s publicity, demonstrations or persuading legislators, to pressure the airlines. People's lives are at stake.”