Labor Secretary Listens to Workers Sizzling Under Summer Heat

Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su met with workers impacted by extreme heat on the job.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su engaged with Arizona workers facing extreme heat during a round table hosted by labor unions in Tempe.

Among the participants were representatives from various unions, predominantly those associated with airport and airline employees.

“It can reach upwards of 130,” Imari Heard, an airport worker with the Communications Workers of America explained. “The time that it takes to work an aircraft flight is about 60 minutes, so 60 full minutes that I have my agents outside in these extreme heat conditions, without shade, without a break.”

“They are literally cooking out there,” flight attendant Alana Billingsly remarked. She mentioned that she started providing water to the workers who restock and clean planes after witnessing their struggles.

“Heat is now the weather phenomenon that causes the most deaths,” Su stated. “It’s more than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined, and yet, there’s never been a national standard to protect workers from heat until now.”

The Biden administration is advocating for a rule through the Department of Labor to establish federal heat standards for workers. This would necessitate employers to develop heat plans and manage both indoor and outdoor heat, among other measures.

This proposed rule is currently subject to the public approval process. Additionally, the City of Phoenix has implemented its own heat standards for workers.

“This is a long time coming and it’s long overdue,” Su said.

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