A new contract's heat safety rules are among the first of their kind, but some workers say they have brought little relief.

But promising change and implementing it are two different things, and one year later, some UPS employees say that ratifying the contract has not improved their working conditions in summer temperatures. Many workers who spoke to Mother Jones described feeling pressure to keep up the pace and take fewer breaks, even in extreme heat.

While the company has made good progress on installing more fans, heat shields, and induction systems in trucks, air conditioning appears to be the most intractable change. Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz says the company’s lag in refurbishing trucks with air conditioning is “unacceptable.”

  • PikaEnglish
    21·
    4 months ago

    the fact that basic human rights and safety is considered a historic change is insane. It really says wonders about the state of this country.

    OSHA investigation summary said that he died of heat stress, a description that a UPS spokesperson claimed was inaccurate

    and

    “Our package delivery vehicles make frequent stops, which requires the engine to be turned off and the doors to be opened and closed, about 130 times a day on average,”

    How about just… not turning the engine off for every stop?

    these alone speaks numbers. It’s insane how indifferent major corporations are to basic human needs. I never knew the trucks didn’t even have AC units. It’s not that they are broken, they just never had them installed. They can use whatever excuse they want, they just don’t care about basic human safety. No wonder teamsters was/is striking

    • pelespiritOPMEnglish
      2·
      4 months ago

      They could go electric too, that would be a win win for the planet as well. You can run the AC easily when you’re not in the truck.