Press Release Archive - 2005

Gate Gourmet has named M. Spence (Ron) Howard, a veteran executive of the airline and hospitality services industries, as president of Division Americas. His predecessor, Peter A. Pappas, has been appointed president of Global Aviation Services.

Eric Born, managing director of Gate Gourmet UK and Ireland, announced today that the first group of workers to be re-engaged by Gate Gourmet had returned to the company's Heathrow site, in line with the agreement reached with the TGWU in Brighton, on 26th September.

Eric Born, managing director of Gate Gourmet UK and Ireland, today urged the remaining former workers due to sign compromise agreements with the company, to sign up or lose out on the chance for a compensation payment.

Eric Born, managing director of Gate Gourmet UK and Ireland, announced today that the first former Gate Gourmet workers who have signed compromise agreements were beginning to receive voluntary compensation payments in line with the agreement reached with the TGWU in Brighton, on 26th September.

Gate Gourmet is to accelerate the implementation of the agreement reached with the TGWU in Brighton, on 26th September, the company announced today.

Passengers on American Airlines' new non-stop service between Chicago O'Hare and Delhi will get a taste of India long before the aircraft touches down in the capital city.

Gate Gourmet is pleased to announce that a new commercial agreement with British Airways was signed today.

Gate Gourmet London (Heathrow) is pleased to announce that the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) today has officially confirmed to the company that its members have approved the company's restructuring plan.

Gate Gourmet London (Heathrow) is delighted to report that the Transport and General Workers' Union has finally agreed to the proposal put forward by the company last month to resolve the current labour dispute, and to an earlier proposal to change working practices agreed in June.

Gate Gourmet, a leading global airline catering and logistics company, today announced a realignment of its organizational and management structure by consolidating sales and service functions in its operating divisions.

Following intensive talks throughout recent days an agreement has now been reached between the TGWU and Gate Gourmet London Limited with assistance from the TUC to resolve the long running dispute. The agreement has to be ratified by the members of the union and the company's board of directors.

Gate Gourmet London (Heathrow) and the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU), assisted by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), today reached agreement on compulsory redundancy selection criteria and a process for the ratification of the company's survival plans.

Gate Gourmet London has announced the details of the non-binding voluntary redundancy programme it has offered to employees as well as the compensation payment offered to those workers who were dismissed on August 10 following their participation in an illegal wildcat strike. Employees and dismissed workers received those details in individual letters from the company, which were sent out on Friday.

Gate Gourmet London (Heathrow) is pleased to report tonight that the Transport and General Workers Union, assisted by the Trades Union Congress, has agreed to a nonbinding framework, proposed by Gate Gourmet.

Gate Gourmet London (Heathrow) confirmed today that it has reached an agreement with British Airways to modify its catering contract, which when combined with a program of redundancies and improved work practices by labor, will stem losses at the company.

Gate Gourmet's recent labor developments at London Heathrow are an isolated issue and do not have further implications for the parent company or its operations elsewhere in the world.

Gate Gourmet confirms that discussions with the Transport and General Workers Union through the mediation services of ACAS have broken down as a result of preconditions set out by the union.

Gate Gourmet UK noted the allegations made in today's Daily Mirror and would like to state that the document mentioned was drafted as a proposal by managers who are no longer at the company.

Gate Gourmet UK confirmed this morning that it continues on schedule to provide the basic service to enable planes to fly at London Heathrow Airport.

Gate Gourmet UK confirmed that it continues on schedule to provide the basic service to enable planes to fly at London Heathrow Airport. From the moment of illegal industrial action by some of its staff the company has been able to do so.

Crisis talks between Gate Gourmet UK and the Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU) have been further strained today due to un-balloted strike action and breach of contract by employees which led to the dismissal of approximately 350 workers at the company's Heathrow South operation.

Gate Gourmet Inc. has reached an agreement with the council representing its U.S.-based unionized employees to submit all unresolved contract issues to final and binding interest arbitration, which will result in a new four-year labor agreement by the end of the year.

Gate Gourmet has requested mediation assistance from the National Mediation Board (NMB) in light of the company's desire to reach a timely agreement with its U.S. unions.

Gate Gourmet is disappointed that employees in the U.S. rejected a new cost-cutting contract that would have achieved necessary labor cost reductions as part of its ongoing restructuring efforts. In light of the balloting results, Gate Gourmet is reviewing its options going forward. Our strong preference remains to reach consensual agreements with the labor groups that will provide the savings critical to a successful restructuring.

In response to a media report on Thursday, May 19, 2005, Gate Gourmet issued the following statement regarding its Honolulu flight kitchen:

Officials of Gate Serve, a subsidiary of Gate Gourmet that provides pack-aged food and beverage items for several airlines at Chicago O'Hare Airport, today have applied for the necessary city license to resume operation at the Gate Serve warehouse.

Gate Gourmet announces the transition of its corporate communications department to Reston, Virginia, in the Washington D.C. airport area, as of 1st April 2005.