We have reviewed MultiCare’s second meal break waiver and have heard your concerns about the pending change. We want to offer the following guidance regarding the policy.

MultiCare is required to provide you with the FTE that you were hired into. Failing to provide that FTE does not mean that they can then remove PTO from your account to cover that loss of hours.

We sent a Cease and Desist to prevent the removal of PTO from your accounts and have demanded that MultiCare sit down with us to bargain a better way for this to be implemented.

We understand that some of you would rather waive the second meal period and have a shorter working day- we do not wish to stop you from having this as an option if you choose to do this. It is our expectation that MultiCare appropriately schedule nurses regardless of the choice they make. Our nurses are not financially responsible for MultiCare failing to do this.

We are not in agreement that MultiCare can require nurses to choose between waiving their legally protected lunch break or face financial penalties if they choose not to waive it. If you have signed the form because you felt that you were pressured into doing so, please know that you can choose to cancel that choice at any time.

If you have additional questions please contact your WSNA Nurse Rep, Brenda Balogh bbalogh@wsna.org.