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Florida blocks heat protections for workers right before summer (www.npr.org)
submitted 2 years ago by [M] to c/news@lemmy.world
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[+] -21 points 2 years ago (4 children)

I don't really have a strong opinion as to the right way to go on this, but from a purely legal-technical standpoint, is there a good reason for having the rule made at the state level rather than the local?

I mean, ordinarily I'd think that it tends to make sense to let things be legislated at a low level unless there's a reason not to.

If a locality over-protects workers against heat then, okay, they suffer economically and maybe people and business head to the next town over. I'd think that that'd self-resolve without the state getting involved.

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  • [–] 14 points 2 years ago

    And if a municipality underprotects against heat? What happens?

    People die of heat stroke, that's what happens. And the municipality maybe changes the law, but only after someone dies.

    Protections in this situation are at the federal and state level because the consequences of doing them wrong are much more than just "suffering economically."

    And because worker deaths aren't always a strong enough motivator at the local level. Frankly, not every town cares about their migrant workers and other working class folks, especially if labor is divided along racial and/or class lines.

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