United Kingdom: Unite the Union has raised serious concerns over the prevalence of sexual harassment across the UK and Ireland’s civil aviation sector. In an official statement issued on 8 July 2025, the union confirmed that frontline workers including cabin crew, check-in agents, baggage handlers, and ground staff continue to face persistent and under-reported incidents of workplace harassment.
These findings were released as part of Unite’s ongoing Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment campaign, which seeks to enforce employer responsibility following the Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. The Act legally mandates employers to take proactive steps to prevent harassment in the workplace.
Reported Conditions in Civil Aviation
While the union’s public release did not include numerical data, a follow-up report by International Airport Review presented detailed figures attributed to Unite’s internal survey. These findings were based on data gathered from workers in the civil air transport sector. According to the report:
Over one-third of women working in UK and Ireland civil air transport have been sexually assaulted in the workplace
Additional data shared in the same article includes:
- 67% experienced unwanted flirting or sexual gestures
- 65% were subjected to sexually offensive jokes
- 55% reported inappropriate touching
- 40% said pornographic images were shown or shared at work
- 47% said they experienced harassment on more than two occasions
- 34% said such incidents occurred more than once
- 80% of affected workers did not formally report the incidents
- 76% stated their employer took no action when incidents were reported
These findings point to systemic issues in workplace culture across civil aviation roles, where the combination of shift-based work, hierarchical operations, and frequent passenger interactions may increase vulnerability while discouraging reporting.
Unite’s Position and Recommendations
In response, Unite is urging aviation employers and regulators to take immediate action. The union’s demands include:
- Implementation of mandatory sexual harassment policies across all aviation employers
- Sector-specific training for frontline staff and managers
- Paid release time and formal recognition for trained equality representatives
- An extension of the current three-month employment tribunal time limit for sexual harassment cases
Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham reiterated that aviation workers deserve the same protections as those in any other sector. She called for stronger enforcement mechanisms and urged employers to move beyond compliance to create genuinely safe and respectful workplaces.
About Unite the Union
Unite the Union is the largest trade union in the United Kingdom and Ireland, representing over 1.2 million members across a wide range of sectors including aviation, transport, manufacturing, and public services. The union plays a leading role in advocating for workers’ rights, collective bargaining, and workplace safety. It is particularly active in the aviation sector, representing staff at major airlines, airports, and ground handling firms.
Unite also maintains a network of trained equality representatives and provides legal, mental health, and policy support to members facing harassment or discrimination at work.
