in our Spotlight on business report about 100 union members and labor Advocates rallied outside the company that prepares inflight meals and snacks to demand State heat standards the rally comes just as Jersey is coming off another Heat Wave the heat is especially dangerous for those who work out in it which is why the groups are now calling on the legislature to pass a bill in a special session this August to protect these workers Ted Goldberg reports if you eat or drink on flights out of Newark Airport employees from Gate Gourmet are largely responsible for that but driving those trucks to and from the airport can be exhausting especially during heat waves this can be very hot inside our throats and not all of them have working air conditioning I have gone so hot inside the truck I have I have felt dizzy and light headed workers at Gate Gourmet rallied today in hopes of New Jersey passing a heat standards Bill if that happens employers will need to have plans in place to prevent heat related illnesses they'll have to provide breakes shade and cool water assemblywoman Annette Quijano co-sponsored the bill which has left one committee and got stuck in another one she's heard criticisms from the business Community which have called these regulations burdensome the employers that are good employers that give shade when it's hot give water you know let them um have a a rest this this bill really isn't going to impact it I think it's wrong to try to legislate based on Bad actors there's a system in place and it's called OSHA and OSHA regulates um these these problems these heat issues Eileen Kean is the state director for the national Federation of Independent businesses she says Federal rules already protect employees from unsafe work conditions and the tight labor market means it's in the best interest of companies to keep workers safe it's so difficult to get employees so ask yourself if it's hard to fill your team to fill the team to run your business correctly efficiently to make a profit why would you not treat your employees well because you want to keep people once you have that team in place the New Jersey Farm Bureau also disagrees with this bill and sent a letter to lawmakers earlier this year it said the bill would take a one-size fits-all approach to all Industries across the state when creating a heat related illness and injury protection program it would be an impractical and virtually unimplementable program for agriculture but workers here aren't hearing any of that the New Jersey hit standard will protect workers like me if New Jersey really believes uh uh in supporting workers they should pass this legislation Rafael Escalante works as a waiter in Jersey City and says he's at risk because there aren't any state standards for heat the rules are if you have a table you cannot go inside you need to stay on top of your table that means there is no water breakes that means there is no Shadow no no shadow that means there is no way for us to to rest for this bill to take effect this summer the assembly would need to call an emergency session I haven't been told anything about our schedule and the assembly changing but you know it only takes one house to start the bill so hopefully I mean there'll be an ask in the Senate and we'll all as one um worker in the Assembly labor committee say we'll all hope and pray workers here at Gate Gourmet have a very simple message if State leaders don't pass a heat standards bill and if conditions don't get better from their employer be back soon be back soon we reached out to Gate Gourmet for comment but did not hear back by our deadline in Elizabeth I'm Ted Goldberg NJ Spotlight news support for the business report is provided by experience the vibrancy of newark's arts and education district and Halsey Street Halsey a neighborhood built on heart and hustle visit Hy n-w dk.com for the 2024 Halsey Fest schedule