Mandatory Breaks OK’s for Austin Construction Workers
The Austin American-Statesman—July 30th, 2010
The Austin City Council told employers Thursday that they must allow construction workers to take rest breaks.
At its regular meeting, the council unanimously passed an apparently groundbreaking ordinance requiring that construction workers be granted a rest break of at least 10 minutes for every four hours worked. It also mandates that no construction worker go for more than 31/2 hours without a break.
Employers will face fines of up to $500 for each day a violation occurs.
Council Member Bill Spelman’s office said enforcement would be complaint-driven.
Greg Casar with the Austin-based Workers Defense Project said the group receives about a dozen calls a day from workers who say they either aren’t getting paid or are being put in dangerous situations .
“This may be convenient” to ignore, Casar said, “but sometimes the truth stares you in the face.”
Read More: The Austin American-Statesman
