Pa. House Dems promote bill protecting workers from extreme heat

June 4, 2026

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Good afternoon everyone,

It’s Thursday, June 4, and welcome back to another edition of the Keystone Labor Report. You can find Tuesday’s version here.

I just want to remind everyone I am at Netroots Nation this week, and if you are one of the thousands of progressive activists, communications staffers or local organizers, please feel free to stop by the panel I am participating on this Saturday morning.

It starts at 11:30 am and is in room 122A in the Philadelphia Convention Center.

Sean Kitchen

Political Correspondent, The Keystone

(Sean Kitchen / The Keystone)

Here’s a not-so-fun fact for most of our newsletter readers.

Pennsylvania has more laws on the books protecting animals from the extreme heat in the summer months than it does protecting workers from scorching hot workplaces, but Democrats in the Pennsylvania House are hoping to pass legislation protecting workers from oppressive temperatures.

House Bill 1580 is part of the Pennsylvania House Democrats’ Blue-Green Caucus agenda that brings together Democratic lawmakers, labor unions, and environmental advocates, and it requires employers to enact safety plans for workers after the heat index goes above 80 degrees.

It also mandates paid rest breaks, water, access to shade, placing educational signs warning about the dangers of the extreme heat, and proper training to help those suffering from heat related illnesses.

“Our members, the ironworkers, the operating engineers, the laborers, and the roofers, we build the infrastructure that drives our economy,” said Michael Ford, Secretary-Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council. Their work is grueling. Increasingly, they are being forced to work in climate conditions that are becoming lethal, whether it be on a new road or a bridge or on a rooftop in the direct sunlight all day,”

Republican US Sen. Dave McCormick and US Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA-9 defend President Donald Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund for those who attacked the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, per Pennlive.
Gov. Josh Shapiro highlights his universal school breakfast program for 1.7 million public school students in his first TV ad, per Philadelphia Inquirer.
Pennsylvania House Democrats advance a digital advertising tax targeting Google, Meta and other social media platforms out of committee on Wednesday, per City and State.

(Sean Kitchen / The Keystone)

Nearly 220 workers in the Philly Defenders Staff Union, who are the non-attorney support staff working in the Public Defenders Office, are pushing back against attacks from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a right-wing organization pushing members to decertify the union.

An election will be held on June 9 and June 10 to save their union and keep their contract in place.

In their contract, Philly Defenders Staff Union guaranteed a $2,000 increase to all existing pay scales, guaranteed no-cost health insurance, and protections for remote works and other scheduling benefits for admin and clerical staff.

“We are the non-attorney staff of the Defender Association, the nonprofit that provides free legal representation to Philadelphia’s most vulnerable. A powerful right-wing group that pushes anti-union “Right to Work” legislation is trying to decertify (remove) our union and with it, our union contract,” said AFSCME Council 47.