Swissport Settles Suit Over Alleged Boston Logan Pay Irregularities

Global airport ground and cargo services provider Swissport has agreed to pay $3.1 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the state of Massachusetts, which alleged the company “violated various state employment laws” at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

Zurich-based Swissport, which serves airlines at 286 airports around the world, has approximately 2,100 employees at BOS, including baggage handlers, fuel personnel, ramp workers and cleaners. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said an investigation by her office found that Swissport violated state laws related to workers’ wages and hours.

“Swissport failed to make timely payments to workers, failed to pay employees overtime rates for hours worked in excess of 40 hr. per week and failed to maintain accurate employee payroll records,” Campbell said in a statement. She added that “nearly all of Swissport’s Logan Airport workers were impacted by the alleged violations.”

According to Campbell, Swissport has agreed to pay $3.1 million in citations, “including restitution for unpaid wages and penalties.”

A Swissport spokesperson told Aviation Week the company agreed to the settlement “to avoid the expense and burden of litigation,” adding, “Swissport remains committed to upholding the highest standards in our workplace practices and will continue to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.”

The attorney general’s office (AGO) said it started “investigating the matter upon receiving complaints regarding Swissport’s nonpayment of wages, including complaints referred to the AGO by the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ,” which represents Swissport workers at BOS.

“Massachusetts’ wage and hour laws impose certain requirements pertaining to employee pay and record keeping, including requirements related to minimum wage, timely payments within six days after the end of a pay period and payments for all time worked,” the AGO stated.

“When employers violate our laws, including through wage theft and untimely payments, workers are unfairly harmed, exploited and financially deprived,” Campbell said.

The SEIU Local 32BJ praised Campbell for “her zealous enforcement of wage and hour laws, [which are] desperately important for low-wage workers in particular." The union chapter said it would continue a “collaborative relationship with Swissport that will ensure that workers are properly compensated for the difficult and essential work they do and that systems are in place going forward to ensure workers are protected.”

Swissport generated €3.7 billion ($4.2 billion) in revenue in 2024, up 11% year-over-year.