The Air France hostesses have decided to break the taboo on the sexual and gender-based violence they suffer. They denounce the lack of action on the part of the company.
For many months, Mediapart investigated sexual and gender-based violence at Air France, with the testimony of many employees. The employees, and in particular the flight attendants, disclose what they are suffering without obtaining measures from management. In the article, twelve employees recount what their male colleagues or superiors subjected them to, and none of them accepted that her real first name be quoted, "for fear of reprisals".
"Recently, a flight attendant said to me," Don't you want to give the captain a blowjob so that it goes faster? "Https://www.aufeminin.com/", says Johanna. Justine, she, testifies to the time when a passenger wanted to kiss her by force at a check-in machine, without anyone on the crew reacting. "The captain lets me pass in front of him, saying to me in a low voice:" I'm doing this to be able to watch the ass of the hostesses and stewards "https://www.aufeminin.com/", adds Sophie. Nadia says that a colleague slapped her buttocks and, to justify herself, said that "https://www.aufeminin.com/" he couldn't resist ". Chloé, hostess on a student contract, explains that she heard officers say: "the students are fresh flesh". Nathalie, she tells the time when a co-pilot raped her during a stopover.
All Air France employees cited by Mediapart make the same observation. Sexual harassment is "widespread" to the point that it "becomes almost trivial". Few victims dare to denounce what they suffer, despite the establishment of a listening cell a few months ago. They are afraid of being ignored or, worse, challenged. The reason for this is that in October 2019, an alternate who had reported that two stewards harassing her was refused her CDI because of "the effect it has on men", according to a manager in charge of the file. After the staff representatives mobilized, the young woman was finally reinstated.
Asked by Mediapart, Silvia Sales, assistant general secretary of the CFDT for ground staff, explains that "the question is quite taboo". When contacted by the media, the airline said: "Air France takes the subject of the prevention of sexist behavior and harassment very seriously. The prevention of the risks of harassment in respect of the physical and mental health of employees is a fundamental ethical value of Air France's social policy". If the testimonies indicate that the company began to evolve by changing its reaction to the accusations, the sanctions are far from being the same for everyone. If the stewards can be sanctioned, the pilots are "untouchables", say the interviewees. "When it comes to pilots, we are told:" Move around, there is nothing to see "https://www.aufeminin.com/", confirms a representative of the UNPNC-CFGT staff in charge of sexual and moral harassment.
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