Swissport Settles Massachusetts Wage Suit $3.1M
Swissport, the global ground and cargo services provider, has agreed to pay $3.1 million to resolve a Massachusetts lawsuit alleging widespread wage-and-hour violations at Boston Logan International Airport. The Zurich-based company, which employs around 2,100 baggage handlers, fuel personnel, ramp workers and cleaners at Logan, will issue the settlement in restitution for unpaid wages, overtime shortfalls and record-keeping penalties identified during a state investigation.
Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell said that her office began looking into Swissport’s payroll practices after receiving complaints from employees and referrals from the Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, which represents the airport workers. An in-depth review uncovered 36 violations of state employment laws, including late payment of wages beyond the six-day deadline after a pay period’s end, failure to compensate workers at time-and-a-half for hours over 40 in a week, and inaccurate maintenance of payroll records. The final audit took place March 10–12, culminating in CAAT Director General Manat Chavanaprayoon and FAA acting director of the Office of Air Carrier Safety Assurance, Dennis Hill, signing a Record of Discussion that confirmed all corrective actions had been addressed.
In a statement, Campbell emphasized that “when employers violate our laws, including through wage theft and untimely payments, workers are unfairly harmed, exploited and financially deprived.” She noted that nearly all Swissport employees at Logan had been affected by the alleged practices. Under the settlement, Swissport will pay $3.1 million in citations, including both restitution for unpaid wages and statutory penalties.
A Swissport spokesperson told Aviation Week that the company settled “to avoid the expense and burden of litigation,” adding that 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 company serves airlines at 286 airports worldwide and generated €3.7 billion ($4.2 billion) in revenue in 2024, an 11 percent increase year-over-year.
SEIU Local 32BJ praised the attorney general’s enforcement efforts, calling the settlement “a significant victory for low-wage workers who deserve fair pay and transparent record-keeping.” The union said it will maintain a collaborative relationship with Swissport to ensure that robust payroll systems remain in place and that employees receive proper compensation for the demanding and essential work they perform.
This settlement has wider implications for the airport services industry, which relies heavily on contract workers to support airline operations. Accurate timekeeping and timely payment are critical in roles that often involve irregular hours, shift work and heavy physical labor. By agreeing to the settlement, Swissport aims to rebuild trust with its Logan workforce while demonstrating its willingness to invest in compliant payroll processes.
The Massachusetts case follows a growing number of high-profile wage-and-hour investigations nationwide, as state attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Labor scrutinize industries that employ large numbers of hourly workers. For Swissport, the Logan settlement represents a turning point in its U.S. operations. The company has pledged to implement enhanced employee training, upgrade time-tracking systems and conduct regular internal audits to prevent future violations.
As Swissport moves forward, the focus will remain on strengthening labor relations and ensuring that 2,100 Logan Airport employees are paid fully and fairly. With airports around the world under pressure to maintain smooth ground operations, the industry will be watching closely to see how Swissport embeds compliance into its global workforce practices.
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