Araquistain v. Pacific Gas & Electric Company

Opinion

RIVERA, J.

With certain exceptions, California’s Labor Code 1 requires an employer to provide to an employee who works more than five hours “a meal period of not less than 30 minutes.” (§ 512, subd. (a).) This provision does not apply to an employee of an electrical or gas corporation who is covered by a valid collective bargaining agreement that, inter alia, “expressly provides for meal periods for those employees.” (§ 512, subd. (e); see id., subd. (f)(4).) The question before us is whether a contract that provides that employees who work shifts of eight consecutive hours “shall be…