Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: After protest, Amazon workers finally get AC (some work in 110 degree temps for $11/hr) [View all]Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)2. People who do construction work routinely have to endure conditions at least that bad..
And it's rare to have paramedics and ambulances standing by most construction sites.
Oh, and the pay is often less than 11$ an hour these days..
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
206 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
After protest, Amazon workers finally get AC (some work in 110 degree temps for $11/hr) [View all]
Amerigo Vespucci
May 2012
OP
People who do construction work routinely have to endure conditions at least that bad..
Fumesucker
May 2012
#2
Eh, as someone who did construction work for many years I just find the hypocrisy interesting..
Fumesucker
May 2012
#43
What makes you think that because DUers are responding to a particular situation that
sabrina 1
May 2012
#126
Sorry, knee-jerk reaction on my part. I was thinking of only my own reaction to the story
sabrina 1
May 2012
#166
I think on DU construction workers are stereotyped as lower class white males..
Fumesucker
May 2012
#169
Try being a Certified Nursing Assistant. IME Construction jobs pay more than the more back-breaking
shcrane71
May 2012
#204
When the tornado or hurricane or ice storm hits, how many of these posters worry about the linemen?
FarCenter
May 2012
#129
Note that the 110 is not thermometer temperature; it is the bogus "heat index"
FarCenter
May 2012
#142
True, but the headline and comments ignore the difference between temperature, heat index, and shade
FarCenter
May 2012
#162
Many of the trades you mention can choose to join unions and work under work rules that make it
Brickbat
May 2012
#174
No. The guy who replied to me acted like it was back in the olden days.
YellowRubberDuckie
May 2012
#34
We didn't have mass production and a global logistics network until the 20th century too.
Sirveri
May 2012
#64
Allowing for breaks and a slower pace makes a huge difference in those conditions -
hedgehog
May 2012
#116
People took three or four hour lunchs and slept through the hottest part of the day.
wickerwoman
May 2012
#176
Yes, because workers suffering heatstroke is preferable to paying a few dollars more for a shirt.
Selatius
May 2012
#27
Yeah. Maybe something will cool an uninsulated building that is 100K sq feet a 10th of a degree.
alphafemale
May 2012
#41
I'm always amazed at how cool the Home Depots are on 100 degree days.
Hassin Bin Sober
May 2012
#171
There are a lot of ways to bring make warehouses comfortable without breaking the bank -
hedgehog
May 2012
#120
Yes, because the only thing, the ONLY THING IN THE FUCKING WORLD THAT MATTERS . . .
hatrack
May 2012
#94
Enjoy that $12.95 shirt knowing that someone had heat stroke to get it to you!
hedgehog
May 2012
#118
That's the argument that's been used against improving workers' conditions since time immemorial
LeftishBrit
May 2012
#200
The same way they air condition that giant warehouse like building called Wal-Mart. nt
Selatius
May 2012
#26
I've worked several warehouse jobs, and never had AC. Just as hot in Michigan as Penn... nt
Romulox
May 2012
#8
So...*you* worked in a warehouse without AC, which is how you "know" that I didn't?
Romulox
May 2012
#138
And Coal Miners working at 1 mile below ground should have natural sunlight throughout the day!
alphafemale
May 2012
#11
From the article: "On one June day alone, 15 workers collapsed from the heat."
sibelian
May 2012
#101
And coal miners worldwide have protested and organized for better conditions as long as there have
suffragette
May 2012
#104
They should at any rate have their conditions regulated by their own health and safety needs, not
LeftishBrit
May 2012
#201
"If this thread is any indication, the troll level on this board is approaching critical."
Occulus
May 2012
#181
If you can't sympathize or understand what it's like read this article from Mother Jones.
likesmountains 52
May 2012
#18
And some of them pass out and end up in the hospital, some have even died from bad and
sabrina 1
May 2012
#131
People who work where AC isn't possible can have work rules to ensure they aren't exploited or
Brickbat
May 2012
#55
Laughing at workers who are trying to improve working conditions should be a PPR level offense.
Zalatix
May 2012
#61
Saying "Toughen up" in response to working conditions that can kill people, too.
Zalatix
May 2012
#70
People died. Perhaps that's why your fellow AFB workers have been asking for AC?
Zalatix
May 2012
#58
I'm going to take the unprecedented step and totally agree with you 10000000000000000% -
Douglas Carpenter
May 2012
#31
so here we have a story about how low-wage workers won a battle for improved conditions and there
Douglas Carpenter
May 2012
#32
No, you have members of DU pointing out that some people can't have comfortable working conditions.
Fumesucker
May 2012
#50
the OP is about low wage workers working for Amazon will have vastly improved working
Douglas Carpenter
May 2012
#52
I think you know very well that some of the comments are suggesting - in fact stating clearly that
Douglas Carpenter
May 2012
#54
Should jobs that by their nature are performed in hostile conditions be paid significantly more?
Fumesucker
May 2012
#59
In many cases they are -- because people have agitated for it, as the Amazon workers are doing here.
Brickbat
May 2012
#60
correct and in the past many areas of construction where conditions were hazardous you received
unapatriciated
May 2012
#140
I note that Ceasar Chavez sought to improve the conditions for farm workers
Bluenorthwest
May 2012
#84
Those of us who have actually done the "extreme condition" jobs are all too aware of this..
Fumesucker
May 2012
#161
Why are these off the radar? Because people who work in construction aren't agitating for
Brickbat
May 2012
#57
Where has anyone on this thread said they are unhappy the workers got better conditions?
Fumesucker
May 2012
#66
well maybe it's a missunderstanding - so let's ask the question.. Is everyone here happy that these
Douglas Carpenter
May 2012
#68
If I have to read sarcastic comments and calls for the workers to "toughen up" and people whining
Brickbat
May 2012
#69
At least one person here predicted that $13 shirts would go up to $100 because of this.
Zalatix
May 2012
#93
well it is true that outside groups had to take up the campaign in order for them to win humane
Douglas Carpenter
May 2012
#132
I'd feel better about the whole thing if the workers were exerting some influence on the issue.
lumberjack_jeff
May 2012
#180
If they can cool down those giant malls and casinos in Vegas,they can with warehouses.
Swede
May 2012
#90
Exactly. These are choices Amazon made - same as temp workers and building features
suffragette
May 2012
#115
Excellent posts throughout this thread Suffragette, I too wish I could rec all of them. Costco
sabrina 1
May 2012
#133
An interesting side note is how Wall Street devalues these actions and consistently downgrades them
suffragette
May 2012
#206
Thanks for the story, sounds like OSHA cracked down and they couldn't cover it up.
joshcryer
May 2012
#149
"a ware house is HOT in the SUMMER?" - yes, hot enough that some people collapsed...
sibelian
May 2012
#139
That doesn't necessarily make you pro-labour; one of our most right-wing Tory MPs, David Davis, is a
LeftishBrit
May 2012
#202
You think that's not going to happen if they don't install AC? Are you kidding me?
Zalatix
May 2012
#187
thanks for posting..more people should see this - maybe you should consider making this your own
Douglas Carpenter
May 2012
#191
Wish I could rec your post. Thanks for adding your expertise to this thread
suffragette
May 2012
#203