WASHINGTON, March 14, 2025 – Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and Richie Johnsen, IAM Air Transport Territory General Vice President, issued the following statement demanding stronger protections for airline customer service representatives following a violent assault on a United Airlines employee/IAM Union member at Washington Dulles International Airport yesterday:
“Our members deserve a workplace where they can focus on providing excellent customer service—not one where they fear being attacked by passengers. This latest incident is yet another example of the unacceptable rise in violence against frontline airline workers, and immediate action is needed to address it.
“Across the country, airline customer service representatives continue to face physical assaults, including being punched, kicked, struck by thrown luggage, and having their clothing ripped. Some of these attacks have resulted in life-altering injuries.
“These employees, who are already under immense stress as frontline workers, should not have to endure the constant threat of abuse and physical harm from unruly passengers. The increase in assaults—often involving intoxicated or belligerent individuals attempting to board aircraft—has created an unsafe work environment, and enforcement must be strengthened.
“Despite the rise in violent incidents over the past several years, there have been minimal legal repercussions for offending passengers. IAM leaders argue that these incidents endanger airline customer service representatives and pose risks to the safety of flight crews and passengers.
“Any disruptive behavior—whether due to intoxication, aggression, or other factors—introduces unnecessary risks to airline operations. The Department of Justice has the authority to take action, and we urge immediate enforcement of existing statutes to deter future assaults.
“The IAM Union, representing over 100,000 airline workers, including customer service agents, ramp workers, aircraft technicians, stock clerks and flight attendants, calls on FAA to take action and implement the stronger safety standards that recently passed under the current FAA reauthorization. These standards include employee assault prevention and response plan standards.
“As long as these violent incidents persist, the IAM will not stop advocating for real enforcement of laws that protect airline employees.”
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.
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