IAM and Other Transportation Unions Raise Concerns About Assault on Airline Workers

Transportation Newswire
14 February 2022

The IAM joined other transportation unions in raising urgent concerns regarding assaults against passenger service agents working across airports in the United States. The letter was addressed to President Biden, U.S. Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

 
The letter urges governmental action to address the increase in assaults against passenger service agents, including the prosecution of abusive passengers.
 
“Airline gate agents are a vital part of a multilayered airline security and safety process at the airport,” reads the letter. “Our members are responsible for checking passengers into their flights, checking luggage to comply with airline weight and balance limits, and boarding passengers onto the aircraft in an orderly and structured way.”
 
Over the past few months, passenger service members across the country have experienced serious physical and verbal assault and harassment incidents, with few repercussions for the offending passenger imposed by law enforcement.
 
The FAA has reported a total of 5,981 passenger incidents in 2021, which is up sharply from previous years.
 
“The IAM supports the push for more substantial penalties against unruly passengers who assault passenger service agents and other airline workers,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM Chief of Staff to the International President.
 
“Our union continues to ring the alarm and highlight the need of enforcing the laws for assault against all airline workers. The best way to curb these unfortunate incidents is for the interagency working group to listen to the impacted workers in the airline industry. We must all work together to end the assaults that afflict our members.” 
 
The labor coalition expressed the need for all frontline gate agents to expect a safe workplace, free from the threat of violence, and increased cooperation is required to improve the safety of these employees.
 
 

The Machinists Non-Partisan Political League seeks to advance public policy that benefits airline and aerospace workers. To support the work of the MNPL, please consider recurring, automatic donations of any amount today. Click Here to start supporting this important work.

The Union

Black History Month: EAP Rep and Longtime Union Activist, Ron Robinson

Black History Month: EAP Rep and Longtime Union Activist, Ron Robinson

Feb 23, 2021

Honoring Black History Month: IAMAW Brother Ron Robinson reflects on his black role models and suggests that they might not change their strategies for dealing with Civil Rights much if they were active today. According to Robinson, "I think that those back leaders......

IAM-Launched Perseverance Rover Makes Landing on Mars

IAM-Launched Perseverance Rover Makes Landing on Mars

Feb 22, 2021

IAM members have played an essential role in Mars exploration missions for over two decades. The latest mission of the long-awaited landing of NASA’s Perseverance rover is no different. IAM members helped launch the Perseverance rover on the IAM-built United Launch...

141 Report: New Leadership at Local 368

141 Report: New Leadership at Local 368

Feb 19, 2021

President Tim Nestler, who began his career at USAirways in Pittsburgh in 1987, and Chris Willis, who spearheaded the IAM Safety Program at Spirit Airlines and has served as Grievance Chair since 2018, were recently elected President and Vice President. This week, the...

Share This