Has any substantial penalty ever been imposed on these companies that blatantly violate labor law or are they able to absorb whatever fines they get as the 'cost of doing business', saving themselves money in the long run over what they'd have to pay in compensation if they had a strong union to bargain against?
I wish this didn't feel like a rhetorical question, but I am afraid I know the answer already. They do it because it works often enough.
I hope TJ workers keep up the fight and change the narrative, 4 stores so far and hopefully more to come.
Donate to the union fund here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/trader-joes-united-solidarity-fund
"Drivers have long raised the insufferable heat they can face when out for a day of deliveries, especially in the hotter parts of the country. The fleet of UPS trucks doesn’t have any air conditioning to keep the drivers safe and comfortable during their long hours on the job. During the summer months, package cars can reach upwards of 130 F. This has led to far too many UPS drivers suffering from heat stroke on the job, and some have even died due to the excessive heat. With worsening global warming, these issues will only become more severe. "
This is why we need unions and direct action more than ever, and can't rely on government entities (ultimately beholden to capitalist interests) to protect our health and safety while we're on the job. What the fuck good is OSHA if it is allowing heat illness and heat stroke deaths to happen without holding UPS accountable? They should have had their operations shut down until they outfit every truck with AC, and be fined into oblivion until they do so. Instead, OSHA does squat. Health & safety regulations are written in blood but OSHA's bloody hands refuse to even touch the paper.