Gatwick Airport: GMB survey shows three quarters of aviation workers have been physically or verbally abused at work
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The poll of 100s of check-in staff, baggage handlers, security workers, cabin crew and other workers also shows two thirds of aviation workers say the abuse has had a detrimental impact on their mental health.
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Hide AdGMB members have described being been spat at and suffered homophobic abuse from frustrated travellers.
The poll emerges as GMB's annual congress, in Harrogate, Yorkshire, hears a motion from the aviation workers in London region calling for higher wages for airport staff to fix the dangerously low staffing levels causing nationwide chaos.
On Monday (June 13), Unite workers at Gatwick Airport won a 21 per cent pay increase.
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Hide AdIn addition, Unite secured a ten per cent pay increase for 200 workers employed by British Airways Gatwick Ground Handlers. The workforce is responsible for the ground handling operations for all British Airways and Vueling aircraft using the airport.
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
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Hide Ad- 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.
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Hide Ad“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.
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Hide Ad“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.”
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