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We did it!

We ratified and overwhelmingly accepted meal and rest period requirements for healthcare workers at Tulare County.

May 15th, 2023 – UPDATE: We ratified and accepted the new changes to meals and rest periods for us healthcare workers at Tulare County!

Let’s notch this as a victory. We should consider that we have a few more worker rights, but this is unrelated and separate from our campaign to collectively bargain a stronger union contract. Visit our landing page to learn how you can get involved in winning better wages and more. 

April 27th, 2023 – Tulare County workers and SEIU 521 representatives met with Tulare County HRD and finalized a deal on a Side Letter Agreement regarding Senate Bill 1334 (SB 1334) that passed in 2022. This bill expands the rights to meal and rest period requirements for public healthcare workers. This is why we build political power: when we elect pro-union and pro-worker lawmakers, they stand up for our worker’s rights and are our voices in Sacramento.

This new law entitles county employees “who provide direct patient care in a general acute care hospital, clinic, or public health setting” to one unpaid 30-minute meal period on shifts over 5 hours, a 2nd unpaid 30-minute meal period on shifts over 10 hours, and rest periods for every 4 hours of work or a “major fraction thereof.”

If the County fails to provide these meal and rest periods, the county will be required to pay the employee an additional hour at the employee’s regular rate of pay.

Side Letter Agreement Highlights:

  • Provides eligible employees who work more than five (5) hours in a workday are entitled to an unpaid, uninterrupted, duty-free meal period of not less than 30 minutes that is to begin no later than the end of the fifth hour of work.
  • Provides eligible employees who work more than 10 hours in a workday are entitled to a second unpaid, uninterrupted, duty-free meal period of not less than 30 minutes that is to begin no later than the end of the 10th hour of work. 
  • Provides eligible employees are also entitled to paid, uninterrupted, duty-free rest period(s) of not less than 10 minutes. Employees who work 3.5 to 6 hours are entitled to one rest period, employees who work 6 hours and up to 10 hours are entitled to two rest periods, and employees who work more than 10 hours up to 14 hours are entitled to three rest periods. Tulare County Personnel Rule 6.3 grants employees rest periods of 15 minutes. 
  • Creates a process to Waive Meal Periods by allowing an employee to choose to waive a meal period in the following circumstances:
    • The shift will be completed in under six (6) hours. 
    • When the shift is between 10 and 12 hours, the second meal period may be waived as long as the first meal period was taken. If the shift is more than 12 hours, the second meal period cannot be waived. 
    • Both the employee and supervisor must agree to waive meal periods. 
    • A waiver must be signed by both the employee and the supervisor acknowledging the agreement. 
    • Waivers will remain on file until the employee or the supervisor revokes the agreement in writing. A supervisor and/or employee may revoke the agreement at any time. 
  • Creates a process to Delay Meal Periods if an employee desires to delay starting a meal period beyond the end of the 5th work hour, they must request to do so in writing to their supervisor. The employee and the supervisor must agree to the delayed meal period. In no event shall the delayed meal period be taken during the last hour of an employee’s shift. 
  • If an employee is not provided a meal period and/or a rest period, the employee is entitled to one additional hour of pay at their regular rate of pay for each workday the meal period if not provided.
  • If an employee is not provided one or more meal periods and one or more rest periods in a workday, they are only entitled to two (2) additional hours of pay. 

>>To view the entire Side Letter Agreement between SEIU and Tulare County HR, click this link.<<

>>Click here to read a summary of SB 1334 that passed. <<

WHICH TULARE COUNTY WORKERS ARE IMPACTED BY THE NEW LAW AND SIDE LETTER? 

Not all Tulare County workers are impacted by this bill. The meal and rest period requirements under SB 1334 will apply to employees who provide direct patient care or support direct patient care in general acute care clinics at: 

  • Visalia Health Center (VHC)
  • Hillman Health Center
  • Public Health Lab
  • Farmersville Health Clinic
  • VAIC
  • Porterville Adult MH
  • Porterville Children Services (MH)?
  • Visalia AOD

TIMELINE OF SIDE LETTER VOTE

Nominations open – Monday, May 8 at 7:00 am  

Nominations close – Tuesday, May 9 at 5:00 pm

METHOD OF VOTING

Voting will be conducted exclusively online through our vendor Election Buddy.  You will receive electronic ballots to your personal email address and via text message.

If you can’t find your ballot, look into your personal email address spam folder, or search in your email inbox “SEIU” or “Election Buddy”, or call the union office at (559) 635-3720 or email communications@seiu521.org

HOW TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE

Only full dues-paying members are eligible to vote on the offer. If you are not a current member or unsure, or to avoid receiving a provisional ballot, sign up to become a member here: www.seiu521.org/membership.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Join one of our online Zoom meetings and get more information on the impact of the side letter that impacts the breaks you take at work. 

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3RD at 6:00 pm

Online zoom meeting, click this link to join the meeting. https://zoom.us/j/94453313927 

THURSDAY, MAY 4 at 6:00 pm 

Online zoom meeting, click this link to join the meeting https://zoom.us/j/96979639689