‘Abuse, crazy workload and betrayal by management’
Worker lifts lid on ‘toughest time’ after weeks of airport travel chaos
HThere has been a lot of tension between staff and management. The atmosphere within the staff is low at the moment. Worker
ARD-PRESSED staff at Birmingham Airport are enduring hell amid massive queues and soaring passenger numbers.
An insider lifted the lid on the verbal abuse being dished out by frustrated travellers facing delays which have seen lines of people snaking outside.
One employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said the last two months have been the “toughest time we’ve had in a long time,” claiming staff have been the subject of verbal abuse from livid travellers.
The number of redundancies since the pandemic had left staff “feeling betrayed by management”, while the increased workload had reportedly left morale at an all-time low.
The staff member said: “The airport let go of too many security personnel during the start of the pandemic, but they also lost a lot of staff due to them feeling as if they had been betrayed by management.
“There has been a lot of tension between staff and management since the pandemic began. The atmosphere within the staff is low at the moment.
“We are getting our work schedule every week telling us the shifts we’re working the next two weeks.
“We can’t really plan anything as we don’t know what days we’re working.
“This has probably been the toughest time we’ve had in a long time. Our schedules are crazy to say the least. The shift patterns are taking a toll on everyone.”
Some reports painted an improved picture, with passengers making it through security in 20 minutes.
But many stories in recent weeks, and especially over half term told of rammed check-in halls and queues of up to 90 minutes through security during peak times.
Too many passengers have been left running to catch flights – even missing them.
The airport has ramped up recruitment to help cope with demand since Covid travel restrictions were lifted – but it shed a reported 43 per cent of its workforce during the pandemic, leaving it playing catch-up as new recruits were trained.
The airport claims most of its staff have “loved getting stuck in” during the busy period, and insists praise from customers has far outweighed negative comments.
But the staff member said bank holidays and Fridays were particularly busy times at the hub.
And they echoed advice from airport officials about how passengers could minimise delays, saying: “It’s essential to follow all the signs. Every single liquid, aerosol, gel and paste needs to be put in a Birmingham Airport resealable bag and needs to be put on display. Take a minute to speak the staff
assisting you, and ask questions. If you listen to them, you will have no issues through security.”