As of now, there have been five reported deaths of workers at Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee, that occurred during the flooding caused by Hurricane Helene.

What we know is that these workers were expected to be at work despite the forecast of historic, life-threatening flooding. And we know that their deaths were preventable. While news outlets and meteorologists warned that Helene could lead to fatal flash flooding, Impact Plastics did not shut down. Gerald O’Connor, the owner of Impact Plastics, made a statement on October 3rd saying, “The flood of September 27th took from the Impacts Plastics family some great employees”. O’Connor is wrong. Unchecked corporate greed is the reason employees keep dying on the job.

How do companies get away with endangering workers’ lives?

• Corrupt Policymakers. Corporate-Backed Tennessee lawmakers are prioritizing anti-worker legislation that only serves CEOs and their profit margins. State legislators continue to attack the right to collectively bargain and vote for union representation, all while undermining demands for safety. Learn more.

• OSHA can’t protect workers from climate disasters. The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 does not have any protections for employees who choose to follow public safety recommendations in times of external disaster.

• Our rights have been chipped away. The Tennessee state legislature has spent the last ten years stripping local municipalities of the power to establish health and safety standards, set a local minimum wage, create paid leave ordinances, and regulate the gig economy.

Sign this petition to demand Governor Bill Lee and TN State Legislators take action to protect workers!

We demand that Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee state legislature immediately pass policies that protect workers when disaster strikes. The Tennessee State Legislature should also allow local communities to govern over critical issues that have a profound impact on our friends, families, and neighbors.