Unite survey finds 71% of cabin crew face abuse at least monthly

Sky News reported that a Unite survey of 1,800 workers found 71% of cabin crew and 72% of ground staff experience verbal abuse at least monthly. The same survey found that 42% of cabin crew and 31% of ground staff had been physically assaulted, Sky News reported.

Ben Davies, a regional officer at Unite, told Sky News that alcohol was the biggest trigger, cited by 95% of cabin crew. Flight delays, cancellations and baggage issues followed, he said.

Sky News reported that the survey covered ground staff, security staff and check-in staff across the passenger journey. Davies told Sky News that bus drivers at Gatwick Airport had hot coffee thrown on them, had buggies thrown at them and faced verbal abuse including racism.

Sky News reported that sanctions vary by airport. Davies said the Civil Aviation Authority can ban passengers from airlines but not from airports, and that Unite is pushing for that power through amendments to the Civil Aviation Bill.

The survey also found that many workers who reported abuse received no support, Sky News reported. Unite is calling for a national worker-led approach and a worker safety charter, which 98% of surveyed workers supported, Davies told Sky News.

Sky News reported that Unite wants airports and airlines to be able to ban disruptive passengers and to coordinate bans across airports, so that someone abusing staff at Gatwick cannot move to Heathrow. Sky News reported that Unite also wants minimum industry standards, more police and security at peak periods such as Easter and summer, mandatory zero-tolerance signage, panic alarms for key workers and training for staff to report and respond to incidents.