(OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA) Food preparation workers who supply in-flight meals at Ottawa International Airport issued a strike threat on December 9, 2025, warning that contract talks over better pay could stall just as holiday travel builds at the capital’s main air hub. As of late Tuesday, airport operations appeared normal, and there was no confirmation that a walkout had started.
Who the workers are and what they do
The workers handle food prep for flights leaving Ottawa, a behind-the-scenes job most passengers never see until the meal cart rolls down the aisle. The threat, described in recent reports as “a looming threat,” raised the risk that some planes could depart without meals if the dispute is not settled quickly.
- The workers prepare and load in-flight meals and snacks.
- The role requires security clearances and adherence to strict food safety rules.
- Shifts are tightly scheduled, often with early starts to match departure waves.
The material provided did not name the employer, nor did it list wage offers or the number of employees involved. Coverage of Ottawa airport food-service labor disputes has often been linked to Teamsters Canada, but the union has not publicly announced strike dates in the provided material. Workers signaled they were ready to stop work if negotiations do not produce an acceptable deal.
Why the timing matters
December travel in Ottawa includes families flying home, students heading to winter break, and new arrivals coming for jobs and school. For immigrants and temporary residents, missed connections can mean more than a ruined itinerary:
- A cancelled or delayed trip can disrupt a work start date, a university intake, or a scheduled immigration appointment in Canada 🇨🇦 or the United States 🇺🇸.
- Newcomers often have short-term housing, jobs waiting, or time-limited entry plans tied to permits; disruptions can cascade into missed deadlines.
Important: disruptions that seem small (like losing an in-flight meal) can have outsized consequences for travelers with tight schedules or immigration-related deadlines.
The core issue: pay
The dispute centers on pay. Workers are asking for better pay in ongoing contract negotiations, according to the source reports. Union members often push for wage gains when inflation raises costs of rent and groceries.
- Catering jobs are physically demanding and scheduled around flight waves.
- Because of the required clearances and training, employees may expect wages that reflect those demands.
- The source material does not specify current wages or the employer’s offer.
How catering disputes affect flights and passengers
Airports depend on a chain of suppliers to keep flights running, and catering is one of the easiest services for airlines to scale back during labor unrest. Possible airline responses include:
- Ordering only snacks or switching to “buy on board” menus.
- Limiting meal service to flights where service is required (often longer international segments).
- Reducing lounge food options if supplies tighten.
Passengers most affected:
- Families with young children who may have packed light expecting meals.
- Travelers with medical diets or health needs.
- Those on tight budgets or long layovers.
- People booked through third-party sites or arriving from overseas who may not receive airline warnings.
Airline cabin crews may need to manage frustrated passengers, and notices sent by airlines do not always reach every traveler.
Wider labour context
At Ottawa International Airport, the meal-prep workforce is part of a broader labor picture that has seen strike threats in other travel-sector roles.
- The material notes no related strikes are active at Canadian airports in recent updates from UNITE HERE, a union representing many airport and hospitality workers.
- Separate pilot strike threats (for example, at Air Transat) were reportedly resolved through tentative agreements.
This context helps explain why a threat can quickly influence trip planning: airlines make catering decisions days in advance, ordering ingredients and staffing kitchens based on passenger counts.
Practical tips for travelers (as of December 9, 2025)
The reports advised travelers to watch for airline updates. Examples of carriers named were Air Canada and WestJet. To reduce risk:
- Pack snacks that are allowed through security.
- Bring empty water bottles to fill after screening.
- Check whether special meal requests (e.g., medical or dietary) are still being loaded.
- Carry paper copies of travel and immigration documents in case of mid-trip rebooking.
- Check official travel notices from the Government of Canada at travel.gc.ca for alerts that can affect entry and onward travel.
Impact on immigrant and temporary workers
Labor disputes can also disproportionately affect immigrant workers inside the airport. Canada’s aviation catering sector has at times relied on newcomers and temporary foreign workers, although the source material does not specify the status of the Ottawa employees.
- Workers facing a strike threat may be caught between co-workers pushing for wage gains and family financial needs that rely on every paycheque.
- Immigration status can add pressure if permits tie a person to a single employer.
Economic ripple effects
Even limited service cuts during peak travel can create additional costs and complications:
- Last-minute rebooking and extra hotel nights can be costly, hitting students and new workers hardest — especially if they have not yet been paid in Canada.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests that service cuts can push travelers into last-minute changes that carry financial and logistical consequences.
What to watch next
With no strike confirmed so far, the next signals are likely to come from either the union or the catering company at Ottawa International Airport as talks continue. Both sides have room to step back from disruption without abandoning their goals:
- Workers want better pay.
- Airlines want reliable catering during the busiest weeks of the year.
Key takeaway: Monitor airline notifications and government travel advisories, pack contingencies (snacks, documents), and be prepared for possible changes to meal service during the holiday travel period.
Catering workers at Ottawa International Airport threatened to strike on Dec. 9, 2025, demanding better pay. No walkout was confirmed and airport operations looked normal. The staff handles meal preparation under security and safety rules; a strike could cause some flights to operate without meals or with reduced service. That would particularly affect families, travelers with medical diets, and newcomers with time-sensitive immigration or work obligations. Travelers should monitor airline updates, pack security-permitted snacks, and carry important travel and immigration documents.
