WSNA has reached a tentative agreement with MultiCare on a new meal period and meal period timing waiver for WSNA represented nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital, Tacoma General Hospital, and the Mary Bridge NICU.

This new waiver is the result of significant work by WSNA nurses and staff to create language that clearly explains the meal waiver process and outlines the rights nurses have under Washington state law.

This agreement is separate from any ongoing contract negotiations at these hospitals.

Voting Information

Each bargaining unit (hospital) will vote on whether to adopt the new meal waiver separately. We will hold an electronic vote at each facility on March 20, 2026 from 0800 to 1700. Ballots will be sent to your personal email address.

Additional details about the voting process will be shared as we get closer to voting day.

What This Means for Nurses

Functionally, the new meal waiver operates the same as the current waiver. The updated language clarifies nurse rights and the process for waiving or revoking a waiver.

You can review the full redlined waiver by clicking the button at the bottom of this email.

Key points include:

• You are never required to waive your meal period or meal period timing rights.
• If you waive your right to additional meal periods, you must also waive your right to meal period timing.
• If you waive both additional meal periods and meal period timing, your meal period must begin no later than the third hour of your shift and no later than the second to last hour of your shift.
• You may choose to waive only meal period timing. If you do so, you remain eligible for multiple meal periods.
• If you do not waive meal period timing, your first meal period must occur between the second and fifth hour of your shift. Each additional meal period must occur within five hours of the previous meal period.
• It is illegal for management or any MultiCare employee to coerce, intimidate, or suggest that you are required to sign a meal period waiver.
• A waiver must be signed before the shift to which it applies.
• You may revoke your meal waiver at any time, including during your shift.
• The waiver references revocation through the policy process for tracking purposes. Following that process is not required in order to revoke your waiver.

Thank you to the WSNA nurses and staff who worked to create a clearer waiver that protects nurse rights and reflects Washington law.

Your rights around meals and breaks matter. WSNA will continue to enforce those rights and hold MultiCare accountable when they are not respected.

If you have questions about the meal waiver, please reach out to WSNA Nurse Representative Jared Richardson at JRichardson@WSNA.org.