The union involved in a long-running dispute with British Airways has claimed almost three out of four members of cabin crew have witnessed bullying or have been victims themselves.
A survey of almost 2,000 of Unite members at the airline conducted in November revealed that a culture of “bullying and intimidation” had taken root in the wake of the dispute which remains unresolved.
Cabin crew are currently being balloted again over whether to launch a fresh wave of strikes in the long running row which started over cost cutting but now involves other issues including travel concessions removed from workers who have taken industrial action.
The result of the ballot of 10,000 members is due on January 21. Unite said most of those surveyed were cabin crew members, claiming they have been deliberately targeted by BA’s management to try to “break” them and their union in order to drive down terms and conditions.
The union said the study revealed “shocking” levels of bullying, warning that this could harm the business, adding that in recent months, around 70 cabin crew have been suspended and 14 sacked.
Unite said the survey showed that almost one in every two workers at BA had been bullied, while 72% had either been bullied or witnessed bullying at work.
More than half said they had been bullied by higher managers and almost a third by their line manager, and most of those complained said nothing was done about it.
The union is calling for an urgent meeting with the airline to find ways to address the findings. Unite joint general secretary Tony Woodley said: “This survey shows that the company’s macho management has pitched colleagues against one another.
“BA management needs to do a corporate U-turn and sit down with Unite representatives to address this bullying epidemic.
That begins with lifting the sanctions imposed on over 6,000 cabin crew who took action last year and immediate agreement that a third party will analyse those cases where workers have been disciplined or dismissed, often on the flimsiest of pretexts.”
Woodley accused BA chief executive Willie Walsh and the BA board of “ruining” the airline by its “war” on the workforce, adding: “You have the power to end this misery and restore this airline to the place of public affection it once deserved. For your customers, shareholders and workforce, the glaring question now is why you choose not to.”