A restaurant workers strike at San Francisco International Airport ended at 12:01 a.m. Thursday with the union claiming victory after reaching a tentative deal.
In a news release, the union said workers at SFO restaurants, bars, coffee shops and lounges won significant raises and free family health care in a tentative deal for a new contract reached late Wednesday night.
The strike lasted three days, and workers were back on the job Thursday morning, the union said. The deal, unanimously approved by Unite Here Local 2's bargaining committee, still needs ratification through a workers vote to be held Oct. 2.
Details of the agreement will be released if and when it's ratified, the union said.
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"This strike was so worth it to give my family a better life," Blanca Gay, a snack bar attendant, said in a statement. She has worked at SFO for 30 years.
The strike forced most of SFO’s food and beverage outlets to close, and passengers reported long lines for food and coffee at the few outlets that remained open.
Some airport restaurants and lounges reopened under limited hours Thursday and all outlets were expected to resume normal operations within 24 hours, airport officials said.
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"I am thrilled that both parties have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract," SFO Director Ivar C. Satero said. "This new contract provides competitive pay and benefits, allowing our food workers to continue delivering the world-class airport experience that travelers love."
As of Thursday afternoon, the group of SFO restaurants, which had been bargaining as a collective, had yet to release a statement about the tentative deal.
If approved, the contract would expire in August 2025.
