[Texas Tribune] “We are dying”: Houston workers protest new state law removing water break requirements ( www.texastribune.org )

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House Bill 2127, which takes effect on Sept. 1, will do away with local rules that require water breaks for construction workers. The cities of Austin and Dallas, for example, require 10-minute breaks every four hours. San Antonio officials had been considering a similar ordinance.

“We are human beings who need respect,” Martínez said. “We really need to be allowed to work without problems, without any barriers … Believe me, we are dying inside those buildings when they take away our water and our [break] time.”

onionbaggage ,

If an employer doesn’t allow you a water break in this heat then it’s time to leave them without employees.

dangblingus ,

This should be an absolute no brainer of an issue to unionize over.

Blamemeta ,

Shitty law, but it’s not even in effect yet.

hoodatninja ,

Yeah, because as we know, no general contractor would leap at the opportunity to start early  lol

orphiebaby ,
@orphiebaby@lemmy.world avatar

Nah, let’s wait until the law passes and people die first, that’s a great idea! /s

Arcane_Trixster ,

People are already dying in the heat. Remove water breaks and it gets worse. Are you fucking 12?

Shinhoshi ,
@Shinhoshi@lemmygrad.ml avatar

In Houston today, it’s going to feel like 43°C (110°F). When I go outside in that heat even for a second or two, I‘m already too hot, need a water break, and wonder how anyone can survive working in that.

I don’t know how anyone with a conscience could feel that heat and think removing water breaks for the workers is fine.

Maybe I’m just a stupid communist though and should try losing my conscience or something…

Blamemeta ,

If you use celsius as a default, I doubt you live in Houston.

Shinhoshi ,
@Shinhoshi@lemmygrad.ml avatar

I prefer the metric system – my weather app is set to Celsius and the Farenheight was a conversion. While I don’t live in Houston, I do live in Texas currently.

ZombieTheZombieCat ,

You’re right, only people who live in Houston, Texas are allowed to comment on how dangerous and degrading this is. I’m sure there’s no possibility of other red states adopting it or similar.

/s

I will never understand people who argue in favor of their own rights being taken away.

toasteecup ,

Nice topic dodge. Tell me more about how other temperature systems are bad for people who are dying from heat stroke.

jimbolauski ,

In hot weather OHSA requires water breaks, these laws are redundant.

yokonzo ,

Seems like there’s enough fear to cause protests at least

str00pwafel ,

OSHA and the state have different mechanisms of enforcement though, and there’s a reason OSHA guidelines aren’t followed very strictly on worksites

Sanctus ,
@Sanctus@lemmy.world avatar

When was the last time you had OSHA come crashing down on you the last time you scooted a manual fork around like a fucken razor scooter? Never? Same.

So how often do you think they will come to these people’s aid when they are having a heatstroke? Thats right. Never.

just_ducky_in_NH ,

OSHA recommends water breaks, it does not require them.

Vaginal_blood_fart ,

On the upside, fewer Texans. /s

Hazdaz ,

What is the LeopardAteMyFace equivalent for Lemmy? Because this belongs there.

Guaranteed that the same people complaining about this water break issue now are also people who in the last election either couldn’t be bothered to go vote, or voted for that clown Abbott. You vote for fascists, you get fascist policies.

fearout ,
@fearout@kbin.social avatar

LeomardsAteMyFace

Shinhoshi ,

!leopardsatemyface

SighBapanada ,

“we are dying”

Oh please, stop being dramatic

/s

Noetic97 ,
@Noetic97@lemmy.world avatar

A little death never hurt anyone.

/s

DanglingFury ,

Who let these people out of the factory?!

livedeified ,
@livedeified@lemmy.world avatar

so much “prolife” sentiment coming out of Texas! /s

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