Group protests lack of water breaks for construction crews
To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.
Then come back here and refresh the page.
The Workers Defense Project staged a thirst strike Thursday at Austin City Hall to demand the time for their fellow workers to quench their thirst.
Currently, rest breaks are not required by state or federal law.
The group said federal requirements that employers provide drinking water are rarely enforced.
“Some of these contractors, they try to put off as much on the employee as they can. Usually the ones that aren't providing the water are the same ones that make the workers bring their own power tools even,'' sheet metal worker Carl Betancourt said.
The demonstration included a memorial to Austin construction worker Jeffery Willenborg. The Workers Defense Project said he died last July of heat-related causes after working for three days on a construction site in extreme temperatures.