12 workers fired for not braving heat

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The heat index Thursday was in the neighborhood of 115 degrees, but 12 local union workers said they were fired because they were not willing to spend 10 hours in it.

"I have been part of the union for 16 years and I have never seen anything like this, ever," said Randy Lucas.

Lucas said three weeks ago Iron Workers Local 22 signed a contract with Columbus, Ohio-based Columbus Steel Erectors.

The agreement said the crew would work 10 hours a day, 4 days a week. Lucas said because of the heat Wednesday, the group agreed to only work 8 hours.

He said when the workers showed up Thursday at 6:30 a.m., they were told they had been fired.

NewsChannel 18 was kicked off the property, but our camera was rolling as the crew was escorted off the job site.

"Someone is going to have to drop and be taken out in an ambulance before they are going to realize we were right,” said Lucas. “It is too hot."

Lucas said the heat sent a couple workers to the hospital.

"They got real white, all the signs of heat exhaustion,” said Lucas. “They were throwing up. They were in pretty bad shape."

Purdue officials said when the heat index inside the T-Rec reaches 95 degrees, the facility shuts down.

The union workers said they are working in a warmer and higher environment just across the street at the Co-Rec.

"It is Mother Nature. It is 115,” said 25-year union worker Bob Weatherford. “They expect you to keep going."

Weatherford said the only reason the company is pushing for four, ten-hour days is so the crew from Ohio can have a long weekend.

"They do not care about the heat or a guy dying or anything,” said Weatherford. “They just want to go home on Thursday."

For now, the crew is stuck in the shade waiting, hoping they will be able to get back to work.

Members of Columbus Steel Erectors are not commenting, but Purdue University is.

Jeanne Norberg, Director of the University News Service said, Columbus Steel Erectors "is a private company and does not involve the University in any way."

NewsChannel 18 will continue to follow this story.