Signed at Heathrow Airport by Unite, the UK’s leading union in the civil aviation sector, the policy is the first such sexual harassment policy signed by Unite since law changes on workplace sexual harassment in October 2024.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, said: “Unite has long been committed to taking a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment and this marks an excellent win for our members at Heathrow Airport.
“This new policy will go a long way to protecting our staff from sexual harassment and creating a safe workplace, where workers are being given the commitment that incidents will be dealt with effectively.
“Unite will fight every step of the way to ensure workplace harassment becomes a thing of the past.”
The policy applies to all staff at Heathrow Airport Limited, including those employed by third-party companies such as British Airways and OCS.
Key measures include mandatory training on sexual harassment for all employees, regular risk assessments, and a clear commitment to swift and effective action when incidents are reported.
The policy also outlines specific procedures for cases where individuals are disciplined or dismissed following a finding of sexual harassment.
Unite plans to conduct polling at Heathrow to assess whether members feel the policy is working, alongside a formal review of its effectiveness.
A campaign focused on tackling sexual harassment will also be launched in collaboration with the employer.
A Unite survey conducted in 2025 found that one in three women working in the Civil Aviation Transport (CAT) sector had been sexually assaulted at work.
In addition, 55 per cent reported inappropriate touching and 40 per cent said they had been shown pornography.
Perpetrators included colleagues, managers, and third parties such as passengers.
Despite the seriousness of the incidents, 80 per cent of victims did not report them, and of those who did, 76 per cent said management failed to take their complaints seriously.
Shereen Higginson, Unite’s regional officer, said: “Unite’s research found the CAT sector is one of the worst affected by sexual harassment and urgent change is sorely needed.
“We are very pleased to have signed off on this policy at Heathrow Airport, which won’t only protect staff there but has real potential to affect significant change nationally.
“This is a major step in Unite’s plans to end sexual harassment in the workplace once and for all.”
Unite is currently running its Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment campaign.
The Heathrow policy will now be examined for potential rollout across all 19 sectors represented by the union.
