The employers are following California law and our contract (CBA) regarding the 30-minute break period. This notice is just a clarification of a policy that has been in place for years.

Under our current CBA, Local 280 members who waive the

30-minute meal break are given two 10-minutes breaks, which

is more than the California law mandates.

The information below is from Local 280’s labor law attorney from a 2021 memorandum.

Employees have the right to waive the 30-minute meal period if they work more than five hours but less than six hours. If they revoke the waiver and request to take their lunch period after the fifth hour, management may either extend their shift by 30 minutes, so they work a full shift or reduce their pay by 30 minutes to reflect the unpaid meal period.

Members certainly have the right to revoke their meal period waiver, but management does not have to pay them for the additional 30 minutes and management can cut their shift short or extend their shift.

Any members who have questions about this policy should contact their Union representative.