occupational injustice
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Indoor farming: a climate solution with hidden dangers for workers
Greenhouse workers face extreme heat and humidity, risking their health in structures designed to protect plants, not people.
Melina Walling and Dorany Pineda report for the Associated Press.
In short:
- Greenhouse and nursery workers are increasingly exposed to extreme heat, often exceeding 100°F, leading to heat-related illnesses.
- These workers lack adequate protections and breaks, making them vulnerable to heat stress, dizziness, and other health issues.
- Efforts to include greenhouses in indoor agriculture solutions need to account for better worker protections and enforcement.
Key quote:
"Many times we don’t leave to cool off for a short while. It’s not because we wouldn’t want to do it, but because we’re scared that they would dismiss us."
— Eulalia Mendoza, former greenhouse worker.
Why this matters:
This isn't just a labor issue; it's an environmental and public health crisis. With regulators slow to adapt and industry leaders often prioritizing profit over people, greenhouse workers are left in a perilous bind. Read more: “Dehumanizing” conditions for Michigan farmworkers.
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| BigStock Photo ID: 98274455 |
| Copyright: Virrage Images |
The 'climate quitters' ditching corporate roles
A growing number of workers are making the decision to walk out of companies whose environmental values don't align with their own.
| BigStock Photo ID: 98274455 |
| Copyright: Virrage Images |
The 'climate quitters' ditching corporate roles
A growing number of workers are making the decision to walk out of companies whose environmental values don't align with their own.
‘It’s slavery for modern times’: how children of 12 toil in Colorado’s fields
Some Republican-led states are pushing to relax child labour laws but even in the farms of San Luis valley, where most are Hispanic/Latino, youngsters can work an unlimited number of hours.
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Without their knowledge, seafarers are having their lives put at risk by shady, sanctions-busting oil smugglers.
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‘It was hell but the owner said, you have to work’: dying from heat in Greece
Greece relies on its tourism industry. But intense heatwaves, which have led to wildfires across the country, are making life a misery for thousands of staff who have to work outside – and killing some of them.
Newsletter
‘The cruelty Olympics’: Texas workers condemn elimination of water breaks
Outdoor workers express anger and fear of potential repercussions after governor rescinds mandatory breaks amid extreme heat
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