BusinessBusinessVideoMcDonalds food

McDonald's Employees Walk Out In Protest Of No Air Conditioning After Crew Member Collapses

McDonald's Employees Walk Out In Protest Of Broken Air Conditioner After Crew Member Collapses
By 

Associate Business Editor, The Huffington Post

|

A New York City McDonald's crew walked out Friday, saying they were forced to work without air conditioning amid record-high temperatures. One worker collapsed from the heat.

Luisa Villa, an employee who participated in the walkout on Friday, said in an interview with The Huffington Post that the air conditioner in the restaurant's kitchen has been broken at least since she began working there nine years ago. The crew member who collapsed, Esheliz Méndez, had complained about the broken air conditioner numerous times, she added. A repair was made last year after another employee collapsed, Villa said, but the cooling system broke again within a week.

"[The owners of the store] make fun of us because they think we're animals," Villa said in Spanish. "We're not animals. We're people. We don't want to die and you can certainly die from the heat, you know."

Greg Basta, Deputy Director at New York Communities for Change, tweeted a photo of the scene:

The McDonald's branch in question, located in Washington Heights, is an independently owned franchise managed by Dominga De Jesus, according to the company's website. Seventy people work there in total, Villa said.

The McDonald's branch and the company's headquarters did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The New York City Fire Department told NBC News that it transported an unconscious person to the hospital from the McDonald's location early Friday afternoon.

Villa said she and her fellow employees walked out simply because they want the air conditioner to be fixed. Soon after the walkout took place, the owners brought in temporary workers so the restaurant could continue operating. Villa added that she hopes the owners will not retaliate against the workers and fire them because of the protests.

Business Insider's Ashley Lutz tweeted the following after news of the incident broke:

Eleazar Melendez and Kim Bhasin contributed reporting.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost

Before You Go

10 Things The Fast Food Industry Doesn't Want You To Know
McDonald's Grew During The Recession(01 of10)
Open Image Modal
McDonald's had higher sales growth in 2008 than in 2006 or 2007, opening nearly 600 stores that year, according to Slate. The chain was able to take advantage of Americans' recession tastes: Cheap, convenient food. (credit:Getty Images)
They Handle Food That Isn't Really Food(02 of10)
Open Image Modal
One Reddit user claiming to be an ex-McDonald's worker said he once left a bag of chicken nuggets out on the counter for too long and "they melted. Into a pool of liquid." That didn't stop him from loving the nuggets, "still delicious," he wrote. (credit:Getty Images)
Fast Food Companies See Huge Profits On The Backs Of Low-Wage Workers(03 of10)
Open Image Modal
More than 60 percent of low-wage workers are employed by big corporations, according to a July analysis by the National Employment Law Project. And more than 90 percent of those companies were profitable last year. (credit:Getty Images)
The Average Pay For A Fast Food Worker In New York City Is $9 Per Hour(04 of10)
Open Image Modal
Fast food workers in New York City make an average of $9 per hour, according to the Village Voice. That comes to about $18,500 per year for full-time workers. (credit:Getty Images)
Fast Food Workers Are Unlikely To Get Paid Sick Days(05 of10)
Open Image Modal
For 40 percent of private sector workers, taking a sick day and still getting paid isn't an option, according to the Baltimore Sun. Fast food workers are especially likely to be part of that 40 percent. (credit:Getty Images)
The Boss Can Threaten To Take Workers' Health Care Away(06 of10)
Open Image Modal
Many fast food workers saw their health benefits put at risk this year, if they even had them at all. Papa John's CEO John Schnatter said he would likely reduce some of his workers hours so that he wouldn't have to cover them in response to Obamacare. Jimmy John's founder, Jimmy John Liautaud told Fox News in October that he would "have to" cut workers' hours so that he wasn't forced to cover them under Obamacare. (credit:Getty Images)
The Average Hourly Pay At Many Fast Food Eateries Is Less Than $8 An Hour(07 of10)
Open Image Modal
The average hourly pay at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Taco Bell is less than $8 an hour, according to salary data cited by CNBC. (credit:Getty Images)
The Median Age Of A Fast Food Worker Is 28(08 of10)
Open Image Modal
As more workers fight for limited jobs, many older employees are gravitating towards the fast food industry. The median age of a fast food worker is 28, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data cited by the Atlantic. For women, who make up two-thirds of the industry's employees, that age is 32. (credit:Getty Images)
Labor Leaders Rarely Try To Unionize Fast Food Workers(09 of10)
Open Image Modal
Fast food worker's went on strike in late November in New York City, showcasing a rare effort to organize the industry's workers. Labor leaders often don't make an effort to organize these workers because the high turnover makes the challenge daunting. (credit:Getty Images)
Fast Food Workers Are The Lowest Paid Workers In NYC(10 of10)
Open Image Modal
For all their work, fast food workers get very little dough. The lowest paid job category in New York City is "Combined Food Service and Preparation Workers, Including Fast Food," according to Bureau of Labor Department Statistics cited by Salon. (credit:Getty Images)
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip