picking shifts should be an easy process?

Section 162 of the NYS Labor Law requires every person who works a shift of more than 6 hours to receive a meal break of at least 30 minutes. Please see attached. Since you work a shift of 4.5 hours, no meal break is required.

Carmine Ruberto, Director

Division of Labor Standards

By: Vincent Hammond

Senior Labor Standards Investigator

New York State Department of Labor

Division of Labor Standards

75 Varick Street, 7th Floor

New York, NY 10013

(212) 775-3719

From: 
Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2013 8:18 PM
To: labor.sm.ls.ask
Subject: Labor Website Contact Form Submission - Labor Law Violations

Subject: Labor Law Violations

Dear Sir/Madam: I am employed as a Part Time Cashier at Nassau OTB, a public benefit corporation. I work 18 hours a week, four 4 1/2 shifts. I am a member of Teamsters Local 707, Kevin McCaffrey President. On March 27, 2013 the cashiers in the Franklin Square Branch of Nassau OTB picked their shifts for the coming year starting April 14, 2013. Each cashier picks four shifts of four and a half hours duration. All went smoothly until I was denied my fourth pick, the Wednesday 3:45-8:15 pm shift. I had previously chosen The 11:15am-3:45 pm shift. What, if anything, does the laws of the State of NY require Nassau OTB to provide for breaks. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Teamsters and Nassau OTB simply requires two 15 minute breaks and one twenty minute break for any shift over 7 hours. I would think that two consecutive 4 1/2 shifts would simply have the same breaks. Please advise in writing ASAP. The next Local 707 General Meeting is April 14, 2013 and the new schedule starts on April 14. 

Sincerely yours, 

 Part Time Nassau OTB Cashier