Many airport workers claim to have suffered hate-filled physical or verbal abuse at work during the nation's airport travel crisis. A poll of hundreds of check-in staff, baggage handlers, security workers, cabin crew and other workers by the GMB union also shows two thirds of aviation workers say the abuse has had a detrimental impact on their mental health.
GMB members have described being been spat at and suffered homophobic abuse from frustrated travellers. Other findings from the survey show:
a massive 96 per cent reporting staff shortages where they work, with almost 90 per cent said they experienced them daily
85 per cent stating the crisis in the aviation sector was going to get worse before it gets better
86 per cent stating that they feel that management have no plan to deal with the crisis
Almost half struggling to pay the bills and keep a roof over their heads
Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said: “The results of this survey are devastating. Three quarters of aviation workers experiencing abuse is totally unacceptable.
“GMB members are doing their best as they deal with a crisis that is entirely of airlines’ own making. Mass staff shortages are making their jobs – and people’s holiday’s - impossible.
“Airlines need to listen to workers and pay a wage that means they can live through the cost of living crisis. Then maybe they’d have enough staff to get people away on their holidays without frustration and delays.”
Meanwhile, hundreds of GMB members working as Heathrow check in and ground staff have started voting on possible strike action. If the British Airways workers vote to take industrial action, they would walk out during the summer holiday period.
The ballot ends on June 23 with the result expected the same day. Workers are furious because a 10 per cent pay cut imposed on them during the pandemic has not been reinstated, it has been alleged.
While other BA workers have been given a 10 per cent bonus, the check in staff have had nothing, it has been claimed. Ms Houghton added: "Staff at Heathrow have been verbally and physically abused by angry passengers after British Airways’ staff shortages and IT failures nearly brought the airport to a standstill.
“Unrest is now starting to spread like wildfire to other groups of BA workers with many more now considering a vote to walk out."
