Health Care Workers Sue For Back Wages

Hundreds of UPMC and West Penn Allegheny employees are seeking pay for work they've done during meal breaks. Attorney Nelson Thomas says the health systems automatically deduct half an hour's pay from the workers' paychecks to account for a meal break, but many employees work right through that time. Thomas says that adds up over time--one hypothetical case shows a health care worker owed more than $29,000 for three years of missed meal breaks. When you consider the number of hourly workers employed at the health systems, Thomas says damages could total millions of dollars. Other employees may still join the suit.

Lawsuits against UPMC and West Penn Allegheny were filed this morning. A spokesman for West Penn Allegheny would not comment. Yesterday, a similar suit was filed against Mercy Hospital, which is now part of the UPMC system.