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By Estelle Timar-Wilcox, Minnesota Public Radio News

An airline industry group is suing the state of Minnesota in pursuit of an exemption from a new paid sick time law, arguing the requirement runs contrary to federal rules and could hamper flight schedules.

The law requires employers to give a certain amount of sick time per year and limits employers’ ability to restrict use of sick time. But in a lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court, Airlines for America said the law shouldn’t apply to airlines.

The trade group said in its filing that employees for commercial carriers and delivery companies are regulated by federal labor laws and the terms of their bargaining agreements, which the group says overrides the Minnesota law. It is seeking an injunction from enforcement of the law’s requirements.

“The Minnesota Law undermines the Airlines’ generous and carefully crafted collective bargaining agreements and company policies, which strike a balance between employee needs and the complexities of operating a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week nationwide network of air transportation,” the lawsuit reads.

The industry group represents 10 airlines, with Delta, United and American Airlines among them. It notes that Minnesota-based airline employees also spend much of their work time out-of-state flying to other locations.

The earned sick and safe time law passed the DFL-controlled legislature in 2023, aimed at ensuring workers can stay home if they’re sick or caring for a family member while sick or in an emergency.

The law initially included an exemption for flight deck and cabin crew members; the exemption was removed in 2024.

The law requires employers to provide 48 hours of sick time per year. It also prohibits employers from requiring doctor’s notes from employees to use time off, and from having points systems or absence-control policies meant to deter employees from using their time off.

According to the lawsuit, most airline employees already earn at least that much sick time. But several airlines use point systems to potentially penalize employees for missing work. Airlines can also ask employees for doctor notes when taking sick time.

Without those systems, the airlines say they’re worried about meeting staff requirements for flights.

“The Minnesota law’s mandate of [earned sick and safe time] encourages employees to use and potentially abuse sick leave, and thus to be absent from work more frequently,” the lawsuit states.

They argue that could lead to flight delays and cancellations, if crews end up short-staffed when people call in sick.

Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry is named as the defendant in the lawsuit; a department spokesperson did not immediately respond to request for comment.