How Worker Protection Standards Can Shield Food Service Employees From the Heat | Eater
"Mad Austin, a former barista at a Houston store, says the air conditioning repeatedly failed during a 110-degree heat wave, leaving the interior routinely above 85°F and creating serious health and safety concerns for staff. After weeks of temporary fixes and negotiations, workers staged a strike and picketed the location with signs demanding a permanent solution; management subsequently ordered two external AC units and the store temperature dropped by about 20 degrees. The experience helped propel Austin into organizing work with Starbucks Workers United, which is now including heat mitigations among contract demands alongside wages and benefits, and drew visible customer support during the action." - Amy McCarthy
