In response to a pending class action lawsuit filed by a former employee, EvergreenHealth has claimed that WSNA has waived the nurses' second thirty-minute unpaid meal period for those who work 12-hour shifts. EvergreenHealth is threatening to unilaterally move "our 12.5 hour shifts to 13 hours to accommodate a second, unpaid meal period." WSNA believes that any such unilateral change in nurses' work schedules would constitute an unfair labor practice.

Under state law, all workers must receive a thirty-minute meal period for every 5 hours worked, so those who work 12-hour shifts must be afforded an additional thirty-minute meal period, unless the second meal period has been waived.

WSNA has informed EvergreenHealth that our collective bargaining agreement does not contain any waiver of any meal period for the nurses. However, WSNA Senior Labor Consultant Christine Watts has also advised the Employer that WSNA is prepared to engage in discussions with EvergreenHealth regarding the ability of nurses voluntarily to waive meal periods on a prospective basis.

For additional information, contact your WSNA Nurse Representative, Bret Percival RN at bpercival@wsna.org or 206-575-7979, ext 3063.