On April 23, 2025, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced a significant settlement with the U.S. subsidiaries of the global ground handling company Swissport. Swissport USA, Swissport Cargo Services, and Swissport Fueling agreed to pay over $3,1 million for labor law violations at Boston Logan International Airport. This amount includes state penalties as well as unpaid wages and overtime pay for numerous employees.
The Massachusetts Department of Justice's investigation revealed that Swissport had repeatedly violated the state's wage and hour laws. These included late payment of wages and failure to pay overtime for hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. These practices affected a wide range of employees, including baggage handlers, refueling technicians, ramp agents, and aircraft cleaners.
The investigations were triggered by complaints from employees who filed them with the Attorney General's Office. They were supported by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the local union 32BJ, which represents Swissport employees.
Reactions and effects
Attorney General Campbell emphasized the importance of compliance with labor laws: "When employers violate our laws, workers are treated unfairly, exploited, and financially disadvantaged." She assured that her office would continue to take decisive action against such violations to protect workers' rights.
Roxana Rivera, Assistant to the President of 32BJ SEIU, expressed her gratitude to the Attorney General and her team for their decisive action. She emphasized the importance of enforcing wage and hour laws, especially for workers in low-wage occupations.
Background: Swissport and working conditions
Swissport is a global ground handling company and employs over 2.100 people at Boston Logan International Airport. In recent years, the company has come under repeated criticism for labor law violations.
For example, in March 2024, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development reported that Swissport USA Inc. had to repay over $2,2 million to 811 employees at Newark Liberty International Airport. The investigation found that Swissport had violated the Healthy Terminals Act by failing to pay employees the required minimum wage and benefits.
Complaints were also filed against Swissport at New York's LaGuardia Airport in May 2023. Employees complained of unsafe working conditions, including defective vehicles, inadequate protective equipment, and poor safety standards. The complaints led to investigations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
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