Latest news with #FairLaborHotline
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Company to pay $3M to settle Logan Airport workers wage theft lawsuit
An airport services company has agreed to pay over $3.1 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that it failed to properly compensate its Boston Logan Airport workers, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday. Swissport is a North Carolina-based company that employs approximately 2,100 workers at Logan Airport, including baggage handlers, fuel personnel, ramp agents and cleaners, the attorney general's office said in a press release. The lawsuit — which was brought by the attorney general's office — alleged that the airport services company failed to make timely payments to its Logan Airport employees, pay them overtime and maintain accurate employee payroll records. The investigation into Swissport indicates that nearly all of its Logan Airport employees were impacted by violations of state wage and hour laws, the attorney general's office said. The $3.1 million includes citations, penalties and restitution for workers' unpaid wages. 'When employers violate our laws, including through wage theft and untimely payments, workers are unfairly harmed, exploited and financially deprived,' Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said in the release. 'My office will continue to enforce our laws to protect and empower workers, reminding employers that Massachusetts is serious about workers' rights.' Swissport settled the lawsuit 'to avoid the expense and burden of litigation,' it said in a Thursday statement to MassLive. '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 statement reads. The attorney general's office began investigating Swissport after receiving complaints alleging that it was failing to compensate its Logan Airport employees in accordance with state law, the attorney general's office said. Some of the complaints were referred to the office by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 32BJ. 'We look forward to a continuing 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,' Roxana Rivera, assistant to the president of SEIU Local 32BJ, said in the release. Workers in Massachusetts who believe their workplace rights have been violated are encouraged to file a complaint with the attorney general's office at For more information about the state's employment laws, call the attorney general's office's Fair Labor Hotline at (617) 727-3465 or visit Trump is threatening to block international students from Harvard. Is that legal? Perjury at Karen Read trial? Experts explain what 'false statement' by key witness means Ashland man found with child sex abuse material at Logan Airport, feds say West Springfield Police K-9 retires after seven years on the force Suspect in Salem double murder lived near crime scene behind Walmart, police say
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
80+ Dunkin', McDonald's, Subway locations in Mass. fined for child labor violations
The Attorney General's Office issued citations against 88 Dunkin', McDonald's and Subway locations across Massachusetts for violating the state's child labor laws. The citations, which include a combined total of $226,385 in fines for the fast food employers, were brought against Cafua Management Company LLC, The Brewster Company LLC, and Knight Food Service Inc., according to an announcement Tuesday from Attorney General Joy Campbell. 'Our child labor laws exist to protect young workers and prioritize their safety and education as they learn new skills, earn income, and contribute to their communities,' said AG Campbell. 'My office will continue to enforce these laws to empower our youth and remind employers that Massachusetts is serious about protecting its workforce.' None of the Dunkin', McDonald's and Subway restaurants across the Bay State had permits for the minors to be employed over the past five years, and all had 16- and 17-year-old employees working past the state's daily nine-hour limit, Campbell said. The teenagers working at Dunkin' between February 2020 and February 2023 also worked without an adult supervisor after 8 p.m., and the franchise operator did not obtain work permits before hiring the children, Campbell said. The attorney general's office issued $140,000 in penalties against Cafua, which had Dunkin' locations in over 80 locations across the entire state, including in Greater Boston, the North Shore and the southeastern coast, and Central, Eastern and Western Massachusetts. The attorney general's office also issued $63,930 in penalties against Brewster for violations of child labor laws at eight McDonald's franchise locations from May 2021 to May 2024. The locations are in Everett, Hanover, Woburn, Weymouth, Quincy, Norwell, Malden and Revere. As for the teenage Subway workers, Campbell said they were also working past 8 p.m. without an adult supervisor and weren't allowed to have meal breaks after working for over six hours. The attorney general's office issued $22,455 in penalties against Knight for its violations from February 2023 to August 2024. Knight operates multiple Subway locations across the state, including one in Brockton. Under Massachusetts child labor law, teens aged 16 and 17 cannot work for more than nine hours a day, six days a week and 48 hours a week. The attorney general office encourages Massachusetts workers who believe their workplace rights are being violated to file a complaint at or call the attorney general's Fair Labor Hotline at 617-727-3465 for more information. Conn. man police say was held captive for 20 years releases first public message 'All Access PD: Grand Rapids' new episode, how to watch for free tonight Boston man charged in connection with breaking into college students' apartment Western Mass. sex offender sent nude photos, videos, to child, feds say Family of New Bedford teen killed in crash sues school district over grooming, sexual abuse claims
