US UNION LEADERS CALL FOR ACTION

Members of Teamster 667 are demanding change at Kroger Distribution Center in Memphis, following the death of Tony Rufus. The union said Rufus died Friday while desperately trying to find a way to cool off amid extremely hot temperatures.

‘This guy was just humped over on a jack laying there dead,’ said Teamster 667 Union Representative Jeremy Austin. ‘Tony, he deserved better than that.’

Co-workers said Rufus worked at the location for 11 years. Staff recalled the moments before Rufus’ unexpected death. ‘Them guys said he was dripping in sweat. Them guys said that guy was asking for water,’ said Teamster 667 Union Chief Maurice Wiggins.

‘He did walk to produce a couple of times to cool off, and that’s where he ended up passing at, in the produce section on the dock in front of all his coworkers.’

The union explained that workers get a 30-minute lunch break and 15-minute breaks every two hours. Leaders stressed that during extremely hot weather, they need more.

Share Tweet

RELATED

ADVERSE WORK CONDITIONS A RISK FACTOR IN ADJUSTMENT TO PARENTHOOD
A significant proportion of the global workforce consists of parents – in 2023 34% of adults aged 25 to 54 had a least one child under the age of six. The number...
Read More
EMPLOYEE PROSECUTED FOR INJURING LABOUR HIRE WORKER
An employee of Delta Recycling Pty Ltd who was directly supervising a labour hire worker has been prosecuted for their actions that contributed to the labour hire worker sustaining a serious broken...
Read More
$6OK FINE FOR COMPANY THAT IGNORED WARNINGS BEFORE WORKER FELL
Iron Up Australia Pty. Ltd., a construction company that performs carpentry and framing work, has been convicted and fined $60,000 after a contractor was seriously injured in a fall.
Read More