Campaign for Passenger Service Agent Assault Protections Pays Off

For years, CWA members have been pushing for stronger protections for airline passenger service agents from passenger assaults. Agents are the face of the airline, and they are often the target of passenger frustration with delays, baggage fees, and other airline policies. Agents have reported being verbally and physically assaulted by customers, including being hit, having luggage and equipment thrown at them, being pulled over counters, and getting spat upon.

Now, after working diligently on petitions, letter-writing campaigns, sit-ins, and meetings with members of Congress and the Transportation Security Administration, the hard work of CWA passenger service agents is paying off. Passenger service agent assault protection language has been included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 that is expected to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives tomorrow. If the House passes the bill, it will move on to the Senate for consideration.

"With the high tensions that are increasingly common with air travel, passenger service agents face numerous challenges at work, including dangerous situations like verbal and physical assault from passengers," said Richard Honeycutt, Vice President of CWA District 3 and Chair of CWA's Passenger Service Airline Council. "It's time for Congress to pass this important provision to protect passenger service agents."