Toilets at work, bit of a strange one.

[MaisWee]

Asking for some advice. I'm a long time poster but name changed as this situation is very unusual and probably outing.

I work on long haul aircraft. On our biggest aircraft that do the longest routes we have private rest facilities for crew. I'm expected to share these with my colleagues, 95% of whom are men. I have no problem with this - we work in small teams of 3 or 4 and when the rest facilities are in use by one crew member they are considered to be exclusively for the use of that crew member. So on my break I have a little bunk area with own loo cubicle attached where I can put my pjs on for a few hours and sleep, and if I need to go to the loo (which is a frequent occurrence for me during my break!) I can stagger there in my PJs with the lights low, have a wee and stagger back to sleep again. Sleep is important - you cannot do a 15hr overnight flight and land safely without a bit of decent rest during your duty.

Although the same loo will be used by my male colleagues, it is not a problem to me or other female colleagues as it will only be used by them on their break, and then I will not have access to it. When not on break we use the same loos as passengers.

Our employer has proposed that new aircraft ordered from now on will be fitted without rest facility bunks, and that crew members will use the same loos as passengers. I'm not happy about the idea that in the middle of my rest if I need the loo my options are to either get fully dressed and go to the passenger loo, or to scurry out into the cabin in my pjs to potentially have to stand in a queue with passengers to use their loo. I find that I drink so much water during a flight that I usually have to go to the loo, and also it looks undignified to have to go and stand with passengers, possibly clutching sanitary products. The loo I would have to use is the First Class loo and FC passengers are more typically men. It is a whole lot different sharing a loo that is being used by men not known to me in a public area than having my own little loo at work just for me, which may or may not be used by a man at times that I am not there.

I want to send a letter to my boss explaining why I find the idea of removing a staff only toilet to be unacceptable. A few of my male colleagues have picked up on the idea that it is undignified to ask a female crew member to interrupt their rest to go and stand in a queue with male passengers, and are wondering if I am able to take a different approach to them with my complaint (many of my male colleagues are also complaining about the removal of the crew toilet.)

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I can see that it’s not as good as you have now so worth a letter. But I think you may struggle to explain why it is undignified for you to queue for the toilet in the same way that a female first class passenger would do. A better angle might be to ask how they intend to preserve your rest period if you are mixing with the passengers - if someone asks you for a drink while you’re queuing are you allowed to ignore that? How do they propose to balance customer service with your legal rest requirements. This would apply equally to your male colleagues so a group complaint might carry more weight?

Yes, and you won’t look very professional nipping to the loo in your PJs, will you? And you can’t be expected to sleep in your uniform, because that will a) affect your quality of rest and make you less safe and efficient on shift and b) make you look like a crumply piece of shit post break.

Do you have a union? If not, can you join one? I would imagine that this affects all staff members in a variety of ways, a union rep can help you organise everyones objections and complain in regards to specific employment law.

Do your uniforms have pockets or would women staff be expected to stand in a queue with passengers with san pro in your hands?

Will passenger safety be compromised if staff members all have to queue with passengers? Presumably staff toilet trips will take longer in the new scenario?

What is the employers rationale for the change? If it’s marginally cost saving at manufacture but costs in terms of staff time and effectiveness, and impacts the safety of staff or passengers, you will surely have a strong case’

I know I have repeated some of the stuff you already mentioned, was just trying to expand on it a bit.

Good luck!

I think they are very sensible and genuine concerns.

I think you need to explain in your letter about not wearing your uniform while on your break but pj's and nit want g to look unprofessional going to the toilet in your pj's. It is important to drink a lot when flying as it dehydrates you otherwise so explain that as well.

Good luck, hopefully they will see sense.

You say that it is proposed that new aircraft will be fitted without rest facility bunks? So surely it isn't "just" the toilets, it is also an issue of health & safety. Your union definitely needs to be making a stand.

I think I would concentrate on the very practical element of why this would be a bad idea, I think, especially ones that would be bad for all workers including men. Do the men not nap in pjs as well? If so, it would seem odd to have anyone in pjs walking through the cabin with the passengers to me.
I think the more employees you can get on board with your concerns, the more likely they are to listen. Most of the concerns seem to me to apply to male or female workers.

One thing I didn't understand, if they aren't fitting rest facility bunks, you won't be in pj's ? Where will you rest?

this sounds awful

where are you supposed to rest, btw?

I would think that a group letter with objections would be the way forward. The trouble is, there's a race to the bottom with treating staff badly of course...so is there a union who can help?

Sorry, I need to clarify, there will be bunks but no loo. I'm in a union who seem to have to fight the company on many fronts, and this is just one more thing. Lots of good ideas given though so thank you. I had thought it was a 'bad thing' regardless of whether male or female. To the person who asked about pockets, no we don't have pockets on our uniform. Spoils our lines apparently!

This will absolutely affect the quality and quantity of the crew's sleep which will surely compromise safety for everyone. Loo queues can get surprisingly long on aircraft.

It doesn't seem any more problematic for you to share a loo with male passengers than male staff. Nor is it any different for female passengers to share a loo with male passengers.

For me the real issue would be having to mix with passengers whilst "off duty" and the interruption to your rest. I'd focus on those issues.