Australia is just one disgusting comment away from a major plane crash because of ‘constant sexual harassment’ of female air traffic controllers, report claims
- A report into workplace culture within Airservices Australia has shocking claims
- Sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination were rife within the industry
- Federal Court justice Tony North QC warned culture was endangering lives
- Airservices Australia rejected the suggestion, saying it had ‘no factual basis’
A vile culture of sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination within Australia’s air traffic control centres has been putting passengers at risk, a bombshell report claims.
The report, which was written by Federal Court justice Tony North QC, looking into workplace culture within Airservices Australia, has revealed shocking claims about the day-to-day operations of air traffic controller workers.
Mr North, who spent 23 years on the Federal Court bench, has warned the toxic culture could endanger the safety of air navigation and as a result endanger the lives of air travellers.
A vile culture of sexual harassment, bullying and discrimination within Australia’s air traffic control centres has been putting air travellers at risk, a bombshell report claims
The report was partly based on a survey of 524 air traffic control workers and more than three quarters of respondents were female.
One respondent alleged multiple harassment incidents, which included a penis being drawn on their chair.
‘It’s disgusting but nothing can be done. If I could move to another company in Australia and be an air traffic controller I would have long ago.’
Discrimination against women was also tipped as a major issue within the organisation, with one respondent claiming women were dismissed for higher duties, despite being more qualified.
‘Personally I have coasted through this organisation with relatively little effort while some of the women I know work significantly harder than I do for very little recognition. Women are treated more harshly for minor and major ATS [Air Traffic Services] incidents.
‘The overall culture towards women is putrid.’
The report looking into workplace culture within Airservices Australia has revealed shocking claims about the day-to-day operations of air traffic controller workers (stock image)
Another claimed that bullying was a part of normal Airservices workplace culture.
‘Attempts by management to address this problem through education are laughed at and dismissed, as management are seen as the biggest offenders.’
Mr North said the report demonstrated the workplace culture of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment needed to be investigated as he believes there is a strong argument that it was damaging welfare and health of a significant number of its employees.
He said as a result it could endanger the safety of air navigation and the travelling public.
However, Airservices Australia has rejected the suggestion that its workplace culture has been negatively affecting safety.
‘Airservices’ safety performance is demonstrably among the best in the world and always improving’, a spokeswoman said.
‘There is no factual basis for these false and alarmist claims. When our safety performance is compared against our peers, we compare exceptionally well.
‘Airservices has a strong reporting culture and systems in place to manage workplace bullying and harassment complaints when they do arise. Any allegation is treated seriously and investigated thoroughly. Firm action, up to and including termination, is taken for behaviour that breaches our strict code of conduct.’
The spokeswoman said Airservices conducts annual employee engagement surveys which tell them the areas where their workforce were concerned about workplace behaviours.
‘We have been working with our people to address this, and have initiated some key improvement actions; most importantly enhancing essential people leadership skills in our highly specialised operational workforce.’