[UPDATE BELOW] Sweltering workers in an un-air-conditioned Washington Heights McDonald's decided enough was enough this afternoon, abandoning their posts to instead protest the dismal conditions they said they were forced to endure on the hottest day of the year.

"In the middle of a heat wave like this, to be expected to stand in a hot kitchen with no air conditioning is inhumane and unsafe," said employee Jamne Izquierdo in a statement. "We are human beings. We've told McDonald's before that the air conditioning doesn't work and that we can't take the heat but they don't listen to us. We can't take it anymore. No one should have to work like this."

According to Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, who tweeted that he is on the scene speaking with McDonald's management, one woman has been hospitalized after fainting from heat exhaustion. We'll update this story as we learn more.

Update, 2:20 p.m.: A call to the McDonald's reveals that the McDonald's is, in fact, open, though the manager declined to comment on the strike. Meanwhile, the owner has apparently decided to flee the scene. Honestly though, how far can he or she really expect to get in this heat?

McDonalds owner has thus far refused to speak to us or accept our letter on behalf of workers. Ran out back door instead — Ydanis Rodriguez (@ydanis) July 19, 2013