U.S. congressman goes on ‘thirst strike’ for worker heat safety protections

globalnews.ca:

A U.S. congressman from Texas held a day-long “thirst strike” on Tuesday to push for federal safety standards for those working in extreme heat conditions — an issue that is becoming more prominent amid record-shattering temperatures.

Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat, spent the day on the steps of the U.S. Capitol refusing to eat, drink water or take breaks from the 30 degrees Celsius heat in Washington, D.C. He also held a vigil for workers who have died from heat-related illnesses while on the job.

The lawmaker, who was joined by several other Democrats throughout the day who pledged their support, said he would only break his strike “when nurses tell me to stop.”

“It’s challenging and it’s hot, but it’s not as hot as it is in Texas,” a sweating Casar told reporters hours into his strike.

In hour 4 of <a href=«https://twitter.com/GregCasar?ref_src=» https:>@GregCasar

's water strike on the steps of the Capitol, Rep <a href=«https://twitter.com/MaxwellFrostFL?ref_src=» https:>@MaxwellFrostFL stops by. «Oftentimes we get labeled as red states. But Greg said we're not in red states. We're in under organized states. And we're working to change that every single day.» pic.twitter.com/LG9ywJqvXe

— Patrick Young (@patrickjyoung) <a href=«https://twitter.com/patrickjyoung/status/1683934644948058112?ref_src=» https:>July 25, 2023

Seven hours into his thirst strike, <a href=«https://twitter.com/GregCasar?ref_src=» https:>@GregCasar

is joined by <a href=«https://twitter.com/BernieSanders?ref_src=» https:>@BernieSanders in a show of solidarity.

“It’s almost absurd we have to talk about this,” Sanders says about Casar’s push for the WH to establish a federal workplace heat standard w/ protections for rest/water breaks.