300 Cargo Workers At Newark Airport See Long-Awaited Pay Boost

NEWARK, NJ — Eight months after the enactment of the Healthy Terminals Act in New Jersey, more than 300 Swissport Cargo Services workers at Newark Airport have finally begun seeing bigger paychecks, their union says.

According to 32BJ SEIU, which represents the workers:

“On September 1, 2021, the Healthy Terminals Act went into effect. The law requires all airport employers to pay a benefit supplement of $4.60 an hour, which would allow meaningful and sustainable health care coverage for airport workers, as well as, paid sick paid leave, holiday pay and vacation pay. Earlier this year, Swissport Cargo Services’ workers – with the support of SEIU 32BJ – began speaking to the company’s human resources department and payroll department. In addition to filling a complaint with the NJ Division of Wage and Hour Compliance, the workers have also sent a letter to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development of the state of New Jersey.”

This week, several workers finally started seeing the benefit supplement in their paychecks. Swissport may also be obligated to pay more than $2 million in back wages for the health benefit supplement and paid time off, SEIU 32BJ spokespeople claimed.

Swissport manages one modern air cargo warehouse at Newark Airport. The company has been serving airlines there since 2013, according to its website.

• See related article: NJ Healthy Terminals Act Takes Off; Gov. Signs Health Care Bill

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