Airlines sue over new Washington state sick leave law

SEATTLE (AP) — A coalition of airlines including Alaska, JetBlue, United and Southwest has sued Washington state over its new sick leave law, saying it's part of a mishmash of state and local measures that could increase costs and delays for travelers — and which are blocked by federal regulation of air travel and interstate commerce.

Airlines For America filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Tacoma on Tuesday. The organization said at least six other states — Arizona, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Vermont — and 30 cities have paid sick leave laws.

"Airlines cannot operate their nationwide systems properly if flight crews are subject to the employment laws of every state in which they are based, live, or pass through," Airlines for America said in an emailed statement Wednesday.

The complaint put it this way: "A flight crew departing from SeaTac International Airport, landing in Portland International Airport, and continuing to San Diego International Airport is subject to three different paid sick leave laws in a single duty period, each with its own accrual, compensation, reporting, and leave requirements."

The lawsuit seeks a ruling that federal regulation of air travel precludes Washington state's sick leave law from applying to the airlines' pilots or flight crews.

Airlines For America said it has not filed any similar complaints in other jurisdictions.

Voters approved Washington's Paid Sick Leave Act in 2016 and it took effect Jan. 1. It requires employers to provide at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked and governs how workers can use that leave.