Sexual harassment is taking a serious toll on the civil aviation industry, according to new research by the Unite union. More than one in three women working for airlines or related services have been sexually assaulted in the workplace, the research reveals, highlighting an “unacceptable phenomenon” that, as it is emphasized, employers are failing to address.
The research was carried out as part of Unite’s “Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment” campaign and was based on responses from 30,000 female union members, who work in positions such as flight attendants, passenger service agents, and ground staff.
The findings are heartbreaking:
34% of women said they had been sexually assaulted at work.
67% had experienced unwanted flirting, sexual innuendo, or gestures.
65% had been the recipient of sexually offensive jokes.
55% had been touched inappropriately.
More than 40% had seen or been shown pornographic material by a colleague, supervisor, or even a passenger.
11% had experienced sexual coercion, i.e., pressure or blackmail into having sex without consent.
Even more worrying is the fact that 80% of these incidents are never reported. Many women fear that they will not be believed, that reporting will damage their caree,r or that management will not take their complaint seriously. In fact, 76% of those surveyed said that management never took any action on the incidents they reported.
Balvinder Bir, Unite’s national civil aviation representative, said:
“It is clear that women in the aviation industry are being abandoned by their employers, and this cannot continue. Much more needs to be done to protect women and ensure that their complaints are taken seriously.”
Unite is launching a strong campaign demanding concrete measures to eliminate sexual harassment in the workplace. Among the measures it is proposing are:
Creating a stand-alone sexual harassment policy.
Compulsory training for all employees on the issue.
Recognizing union representatives on equality issues with paid leave.
Extension of the deadline for filing a sexual harassment claim from three to six months.
Legislative coverage from the government, with sexual harassment recognised as a Health and Safety issue at work.
One of the critical issues raised by Unite is the fact that many perpetrators, particularly passengers, are simply barred from their airline but are free to travel with other airlines and repeat their behaviour. “This is not a solution. We want perpetrators to face serious consequences and women to feel safe in their workplace,” Bir stressed.
The government has said that “sexual harassment is completely unacceptable” and that the new employment rights law will strengthen protections for workers, requiring employers to take all necessary measures to prevent harassment, including by third parties.
Unite is determined to continue the fight until it is ensured that all women working in the aviation sector can work safely, without fear, and without harassment.
