Providence Regional Medical Center Everett RN Contract

Meal Waiver:

Nothing has changed in our Union contract regarding Meals and Rest Periods.

We met with PRMCE on February 2nd regarding the Providence Meal Waiver and we have maintained the position that PRMCE cannot implement a meal waiver without bargaining with nurse and cannot unilaterally change shift lengths.

Background: Providence should have been scheduling twelve hour shifts as 13 hours with 2 unpaid 30 minute meal periods. Instead, they have been scheduling nurses for 12.5 hour shifts with one 30 minute unpaid meal period, without a meal waiver for several years. We have proposed that PRMCE allow  12 hour shift nurses to choose from: 1) 12.5 hour shift with two 30 minute unpaid meal periods 2) 12.5 hour shift with one 30 minute unpaid meal period (with a meal waiver) 3) 13-hour shift with two 30-minute unpaid meal periods.

As we stand together for better staffing, it’s important to make sure that we enforce our contract and advocate for ourselves and the right to potential overtime if we don’t receive proper breaks and meal periods. We recommend that nurses don’t waive their second meal period- as the Union is still bargaining over the meal waiver language and there will likely be a new waiver sent out.

Every nurse has the right to decide for themselves whether to waive their second meal period (you may change your mind). The Union will be moving forward with filing a grievance and taking other legal action against Providence for implementing this change.

If you do not receive pay for late or missed meal periods, you should inform your immediate supervisor and file a complaint with L&I https://secure.lni.wa.gov/wagecomplaint/#/

For more information about meal periods go to our PRMCE RN UFCW page:  https://ufcw3000.org/news/2024/1/31/know-your-rights-providence-meal-waiver