General Discussion

joshcryer

(62,277 posts)

149. Thanks for the story, sounds like OSHA cracked down and they couldn't cover it up.

Sat May 26, 2012, 05:59 PM

May 2012

And if they're temp workers they're probably getting paid even less than is being said, since the temp agency is taking a cut.

Glad an employee had the foresight to contact OSHA. They do their job. I work with OSHA people and am OSHA certified on heavy equipment, it was quite worth it.

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After protest, Amazon workers finally get AC (some work in 110 degree temps for $11/hr) [View all] Amerigo Vespucci May 2012 OP

that's just gross renate May 2012 #1

Spam deleted by Violet_Crumble (MIR Team) misshu May 2012 #188

Spam deleted by Violet_Crumble (MIR Team) misshu May 2012 #189

People who do construction work routinely have to endure conditions at least that bad.. Fumesucker May 2012 #2

Because one group is exploited, its OK to exploit another... arendt May 2012 #15

Eh, as someone who did construction work for many years I just find the hypocrisy interesting.. Fumesucker May 2012 #43

no, you don't support all workers. That is clearly not true. cali May 2012 #45

And you know this how, cali? Fumesucker May 2012 #46

The citation of a single example sibelian May 2012 #76

What makes you think that because DUers are responding to a particular situation that sabrina 1 May 2012 #126

You and I agree a lot more than we disagree sabrina.. Fumesucker May 2012 #154

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

What makes you think that DUers don't care about liberalhistorian May 2012 #146

I currently work construction, and they were breaking OSHA standards. joshcryer May 2012 #151

beside I don't believe it to be the norm for construction work. unapatriciated May 2012 #136

Note that the 110 is not thermometer temperature; it is the bogus "heat index" FarCenter May 2012 #142

Heat index is informative because your body cannot evaporate heat away... joshcryer May 2012 #156

True, but the headline and comments ignore the difference between temperature, heat index, and shade FarCenter May 2012 #162

Do you think that Amazon warehouse was 110 degrees year round? Fumesucker May 2012 #158

So, that makes it OK, then? MineralMan May 2012 #88

That is not how it was in the past. unapatriciated May 2012 #135

By no means are all construction jobs outside.. Fumesucker May 2012 #172

Many of the trades you mention can choose to join unions and work under work rules that make it Brickbat May 2012 #174

6.9%, that's union members in the private work force.. Fumesucker May 2012 #177

Oh, you wouldn't believe the multitudes who are the subject of my contempt. Brickbat May 2012 #184

Hold on tightly to your prejudices.. Fumesucker May 2012 #186

My husband did that for years. YellowRubberDuckie May 2012 #3

I don't think we want to go back to the bad old times... angstlessk May 2012 #4

Skip is 40. YellowRubberDuckie May 2012 #12

And your point is what?? arendt May 2012 #16

+100 nt Selatius May 2012 #20

No. The guy who replied to me acted like it was back in the olden days. YellowRubberDuckie May 2012 #34

Heh, sounds like me, I quit the banquets because they got too expensive. joshcryer May 2012 #144

Post removed Post removed May 2012 #29

No... YellowRubberDuckie May 2012 #33

They survived? Really? Are you saying there haven't been heat cali May 2012 #37

I never said there were no fatalities... YellowRubberDuckie May 2012 #47

and I think you're being callous and ridiculous cali May 2012 #49

Really? YellowRubberDuckie May 2012 #75

I disagree. sibelian May 2012 #77

Sounds to me like you aer speaking from your husband's experience.... Bluenorthwest May 2012 #82

We didn't have mass production and a global logistics network until the 20th century too. Sirveri May 2012 #64

1936 heat wave, 5,000 deaths. No Air conditioning then. Manifestor_of_Light May 2012 #145

Except that before the advent and widespread use of liberalhistorian May 2012 #148

Allowing for breaks and a slower pace makes a huge difference in those conditions - hedgehog May 2012 #116

there is a huge difference between 90 degrees and 110 degrees. unapatriciated May 2012 #137

People took three or four hour lunchs and slept through the hottest part of the day. wickerwoman May 2012 #176

How in the hell can they air condition that huge uninsulated space? alphafemale May 2012 #5

It's called 'the cost of doing business'. xchrom May 2012 #6

Enjoy paying $100 for that shirt that was $12.95 yesterday! alphafemale May 2012 #7

price rise is a management decision to avoid reducing already high profits nt msongs May 2012 #9

Apparently they don't think that's going to happen. xchrom May 2012 #10

Yes, because workers suffering heatstroke is preferable to paying a few dollars more for a shirt. Selatius May 2012 #27

No. I'm just aware of what it would cost to air condition a warehouse. alphafemale May 2012 #35

oh bullshit, dear. If there's no way around it, no way to ac a warehouse cali May 2012 #38

Yeah. Maybe something will cool an uninsulated building that is 100K sq feet a 10th of a degree. alphafemale May 2012 #41

LOL! And I suppose you have an engineering degree? cali May 2012 #44

They heat them...WHERE? alphafemale May 2012 #48

They heat and AC warehouses obamanut2012 May 2012 #65

Oh fer fuck's sake's. try using your little grey cells. cali May 2012 #72

I'm always amazed at how cool the Home Depots are on 100 degree days. Hassin Bin Sober May 2012 #171

When I shop at Costco in winter, I take off my coast obamanut2012 May 2012 #178

You are kidding,I hope. Swede May 2012 #92

Well over 90% of the warehouses I've designed reflection May 2012 #193

So? And? AND??? Which are you saying we should choose Zalatix May 2012 #56

Oh, are you, now? Doubtless you will enlighten us all. sibelian May 2012 #78

Figures? We don't need no stinkin' FIGURES! Zalatix May 2012 #85

Odd that other workplaces seem to manage it, isn't it? sibelian May 2012 #98

There are a lot of ways to bring make warehouses comfortable without breaking the bank - hedgehog May 2012 #120

They had no trouble paying daily for liberalhistorian May 2012 #150

to no one's surprise, YOU are full of it. See Reflection's post cali May 2012 #192

Is there a DU rule against betting you on this crazy statement? Zalatix May 2012 #73

Amazon annual gross profits 2011 $11.87 billion. So LOL. Bluenorthwest May 2012 #86

Yes, because the only thing, the ONLY THING IN THE FUCKING WORLD THAT MATTERS . . . hatrack May 2012 #94

Yah...your math. I'm going to have to call bogus MineralMan May 2012 #100

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

Those places run 24/7. Ikonoklast May 2012 #13

The same way they air condition that giant warehouse like building called Wal-Mart. nt Selatius May 2012 #26

That is not a warehouse. It was built with insulation. alphafemale May 2012 #42

You don't seem to have a point. sibelian May 2012 #80

Of course they insulate warehouses. Swede May 2012 #89

Yeah, I'm not getting that line of reasoning, either obamanut2012 May 2012 #97

Exactly GObamaGO May 2012 #114

We will either the same for that 12.95 shirt, or possibly 12.99 obamanut2012 May 2012 #128

I deliver to several Wal Mart DC's every week. Ikonoklast May 2012 #109

Poor, poor multi-national corporation. TBF May 2012 #95

Maybe they could like, you know, INSULATE THE SPACE!!!!! hedgehog May 2012 #117

I think its called retrofitting. cstanleytech May 2012 #153

I've worked several warehouse jobs, and never had AC. Just as hot in Michigan as Penn... nt Romulox May 2012 #8

That doesn't mean it should be the norm TBF May 2012 #96

So...*you* worked in a warehouse without AC, which is how you "know" that I didn't? Romulox May 2012 #138

In your opinion - but I'll take that over having TBF May 2012 #168

Your responses to me are bizarre, to say the least. nt Romulox May 2012 #194

Anything to avoid the subject ... nt TBF May 2012 #199

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

Amazon calls their warehouses "fulfillment centers." Moosepoop May 2012 #105

Well, instead of heat stroke liberalhistorian May 2012 #159

They should at any rate have their conditions regulated by their own health and safety needs, not LeftishBrit May 2012 #201

After reading the comments, I can't believe this is DU arendt May 2012 #14

You got that right. underseasurveyor May 2012 #17

I totally agree with you. peabody May 2012 #19

I think what's happening is a lot of Republicans are switching to Democrats. Selatius May 2012 #21

I think you hit the nail on the head Douglas Carpenter May 2012 #24

They hold not just right wing ideas, also right wing ethical standards Bluenorthwest May 2012 #83

Hadn't thought of that. Iggo May 2012 #111

I agree, quite sickening. Son of Gob May 2012 #22

I'm stunned at what I am reading Marrah_G May 2012 #23

Makes me sick and furious. I wish I could cali May 2012 #39

I was just coming to post this obamanut2012 May 2012 #63

sadly agree with you Whisp May 2012 #74

This thread is particularly bad. sibelian May 2012 #79

Agree arendt. It is appalling to see this on DU. suffragette May 2012 #107

Looks like it's the usual group of pro-business peeps. joshcryer May 2012 #143

I know, I've noticed this more and liberalhistorian May 2012 #160

"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

a must read dana_b May 2012 #106

I wonder when we're going to get AC.... PavePusher May 2012 #25

But we are HORRIBLE people! alphafemale May 2012 #36

Now that you've reached that conclusion.... sibelian May 2012 #81

Bullwhips are cheap. Iterate May 2012 #103

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

I may agree with that obamanut2012 May 2012 #67

Saying "Toughen up" in response to working conditions that can kill people, too. Zalatix May 2012 #70

yes! Why is it that 15 people on one day dana_b May 2012 #108

Because they weren't tough enough. Iggo May 2012 #113

People died. Perhaps that's why your fellow AFB workers have been asking for AC? Zalatix May 2012 #58

I think it's time for the CEO's to toughen up too - TBF May 2012 #102

Let go of your pearls, you could get a fit of the vapours sabrina 1 May 2012 #127

Out of the gungeon for this shitty comment, eh Hassin Bin Sober May 2012 #173

"How did anyone survive before AC? " — uh, they died. Or got very sick. NYC Liberal May 2012 #185

Sounds like the Auto Zone distribution center B Calm May 2012 #28

I'm also horrified by the sicko posts saying the workers cali May 2012 #30

I'm going to take the unprecedented step and totally agree with you 10000000000000000% - Douglas Carpenter May 2012 #31

wtf is going on in this thread? cali May 2012 #40

Until recently, it was difficult to hire Americans for foundry jobs FarCenter May 2012 #123

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

Can you point to any actual words on this thread against better conditions? Fumesucker May 2012 #53

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 think so - yes. Douglas Carpenter May 2012 #62

I note that Ceasar Chavez sought to improve the conditions for farm workers Bluenorthwest May 2012 #84

+ 1,000,000 suffragette May 2012 #110

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

No tombstone. Let us resist, and fight back HARD. Zalatix May 2012 #71

Several posters seem to think it's deserving of ridicule and unnecessary obamanut2012 May 2012 #87

At least one person here predicted that $13 shirts would go up to $100 because of this. Zalatix May 2012 #93

Please don't be disingenuous. sibelian May 2012 #99

As was pointed out above - both farm workers and people in the construction hedgehog May 2012 #121

But they didn't lumberjack_jeff May 2012 #119

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

The space could be much more efficient siligut May 2012 #51

If they can cool down those giant malls and casinos in Vegas,they can with warehouses. Swede May 2012 #90

Back in the late 60s, I worked in a warehouse for a while. MineralMan May 2012 #91

Not only did Amazon take no steps until OSHA got involved... Moosepoop May 2012 #112

Exactly. These are choices Amazon made - same as temp workers and building features suffragette May 2012 #115

i wish there was a way to rec your post! hedgehog May 2012 #122

Thanks and I feel the same way about your #121 response upthread suffragette May 2012 #124

Your kind words make me hedgehog May 2012 #125

Which is why I have a Costco card in my billfold, and not Sam's Club obamanut2012 May 2012 #130

You've been making great points in this thread suffragette May 2012 #205

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

Post removed Post removed May 2012 #134

"a ware house is HOT in the SUMMER?" - yes, hot enough that some people collapsed... sibelian May 2012 #139

You realize I come from Union Blood. alphafemale May 2012 #141

I come from union blood that has been shed and unapatriciated May 2012 #152

I don't care what sort of blood you come from. sibelian May 2012 #155

Does your "Union Blood" have one iota of respect for OSHA? joshcryer May 2012 #157

Really? You sure could have fucking fooled me. liberalhistorian May 2012 #163

You're adorable. Brickbat May 2012 #164

I cannot even directly answer this poster obamanut2012 May 2012 #167

omg. increasingly lame cali May 2012 #165

The Tower Guard Union? Hassin Bin Sober May 2012 #175

omg obamanut2012 May 2012 #179

Your history with Pinkerton Security doesn't count n/t Occulus May 2012 #182

That doesn't necessarily make you pro-labour; one of our most right-wing Tory MPs, David Davis, is a LeftishBrit May 2012 #202

Heat waves are the most lethal type of weather phenomenon. Manifestor_of_Light May 2012 #147

In a few years the AC will be cooling the robots doing their jobs. jp11 May 2012 #170

You think that's not going to happen if they don't install AC? Are you kidding me? Zalatix May 2012 #187

I am a professional engineer specializing in HVAC, reflection May 2012 #183

thanks for posting cali May 2012 #190

thanks for posting..more people should see this - maybe you should consider making this your own Douglas Carpenter May 2012 #191

I appreciate the thought reflection May 2012 #198

Wish I could rec your post. Thanks for adding your expertise to this thread suffragette May 2012 #203

This place has gone off the deep-end. Now, we have to *pretend* that it's normal for warehouses to Romulox May 2012 #195

some of you are espousing that it's just the cost of doing business to have cali May 2012 #196

You might look up "espousing". I'm just sharing my experiences. It's strange to call people names Romulox May 2012 #197