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9 October, 2018

“Airlines are not taking the problem seriously”: TWU lifts lid on ‘widespread’ sexual harassment

Cabin aisle in airplane with rows of seats and passengers.

By Alexandra Coulton

New research has revealed 65 per cent of airline cabin crew has experienced sexual harassment, with one in five reporting at least 10 incidents.

A survey conducted by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) has found that four out of five cabin crew have experienced sexual harassment from co-workers, while three out of five report it coming from passengers.

Incidents range from sexual assault to passengers exposing themselves to crew, and highly sexualised and degrading comments based on sexual orientation.

Almost 70 per cent said they did not report the incident with many (56 per cent) saying they did not think it would be handled appropriately, and others (39 per cent) even saying that they feared reporting it would make the situation worse.

Earlier this year, a former Qantas employee told the Project that sexual harassment is ‘rampant’ in the industry.

Hannah Rowlands, who worked for the airline for six years, said she was repeatedly harassed by her on-board manager and was forced to quit after claiming the airline mishandled the situation.

Rowlands made a formal complaint to Qantas management but said despite promising she wouldn’t be rostered on with the manager, she was put on at least seven more flights with him.

According to the Project, the airline said it would be impossible to guarantee she wouldn’t be rostered on with her harasser, but that she wasn’t compelled to work with him.

TWU National Secretary, Michael Kaine, said the results of the survey are ‘sad and shocking’.

“They show that airlines are not taking the problem seriously and are not supporting workers when they are faced with what are daily assaults on them,” Kaine said.

“It is clear that a culture exists at airlines to at best ignore the problem and at worst protect the perpetrators.

“Today we are lifting the lid on this widespread problem and demanding a change to the way sexual harassment of cabin crew is dealt with.”

Shockingly, almost 80 per cent said they did not think their company was doing enough to prevent sexual harassment at work.

Of those who did report the incident, 84 per cent were not satisfied with how it was handled. Reports include victims being dismissed and harassers being protected; victims forced to continue working with perpetrators after reporting an incident; and victims being forced to sit through mediation and take phone calls from perpetrators.

Crew experienced the incidents while working for all major airlines including Qantas, Virgin, Jetstar, Tigerair and Alliance Airlines, aviation operator Cobham and labour recruitment firms Maurice Alexander Management and Altara.

The TWU has contacted survey respondents and is setting up an emergency working group of those who wish to get involved in devising solutions to the problem.

Anyone seeking help regarding any of these matters can call:

EAP – Workers Health Centre – (02) 9749 7666 or 1800 Respect

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