Just after workers at Delbar, an upscale Persian restaurant in Inman Park, walked out over poor working conditions including the heat, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Tuesday proposed a rule to address heat stress.
OSHA’s proposed new rule, in the works since 2021, requires employers to take remedial actions when temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Those include providing cool break areas and cool water to drink and doubling rest breaks from 15 minutes every four hours to 15 minutes every two hours. At 90 degrees additional requirements for shaded and air-conditioned areas would come into effect.
The rule goes under a 120-day public comment period before review from the White House. It’s expected to take until next year for the rule to be adopted.
But amid record high summer temperatures in Atlanta, workers at Delbar Middle Eastern Restaurant and Bar in the trendy Inman Park neighborhood are taking matters in their own hands. A group of Delbar workers walked out during the dinner rush at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, and announced that they were striking for seven days over poor working conditions.
“The wages are too low for a city this expensive. The temps are too high inside for a city this hot. The working conditions are too poor for a Michelin reviewed restaurant!” they said in an Instagram post about the rally. “We are demanding higher wages, adequate cooling and breaks, and respect from management NOW.”
The Delbar workers coordinated the walkout with the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW), after delivering a demand letter to management on June 20 for proper air conditioning in the kitchen, $25 per hour wages for front-of-the-house and kitchen staff, fair scheduling, and proper safety supplies.
“We don’t get breaks. We don’t have A/C. I’m not able to rest for more than just a couple of minutes at a time. It’s exhausting working in the heat — it wears you down mentally and physically. A lot of times it’s 90 degrees or higher in the kitchen.” said one Delbar worker, Madison Tipton, in a press statement.
“There will be times I’m in the back polishing silverware and felt like I would pass out. I went home early last week because I felt weak and lightheaded,” she added.
The USSW supported a similar action last July for workers at a Decatur Burger King, sparked by a broken air conditioner. Burger King subsequently closed the store to fix the air conditioning.
The Delbar workers are also demanding paid sick leave, vacation time off, company health insurance and respect for the right to organize.
Delbar management did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
I worked at Del Bar for 4 days in June before quitting over these nasty conditions. I was supposed to be payed $5/ hour with tips, but I was instead paid minimum wage. In what world is Del Bar making 2 dollars in tips per hour for their employees? I was told the wage was around $20 after tips. They refuse to pay me properly or respond to my complains. They are absolutely scammers who have no right running a business.
It’s disgraceful because I never thought that management could be so unprofessional.
I will not return until the situation is rectified.