Oregon Doughnuts Workers Fired in Heat Wave Getting Jobs Back

October 13, 2021

Some workers at Voodoo Doughnuts who were fired during a deadly Pacific Northwest heat wave in June after going on strike are set to get their jobs back.

KOIN-TV reports the National Labor Relations Board ruled the workers at the Portland Old Town location should be re-instated because the firings were unjust. The Board also ordered that the reinstated workers should get back pay.

Eleven employees at that Voodoo Doughnuts went on strike after facing heat exhaustion during the record-breaking heat wave. Seven of the 11 were fired.

Max Fleisher told KOIN at that time he was fired from Voodoo Doughnuts days after the strike. He said the extreme heat created an unsafe work environment and took pictures of thermometers from inside the business that showed a temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit (36 Celsius). Portland set an all-time record high temperature during that heat wave when the mercury reached 116 F.

He said he and the other co-workers brought up concerns about the heat to management. But when nothing changed as temperatures kept climbing, Fleisher said he and the others went on strike.

KOIN 6 News has reached out to Voodoo Doughnuts for comment.

Voodoo Doughnuts, known for its extravagant doughnuts with unusual toppings, is a popular tourist draw.

Topics Talent Oregon

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