CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
Sean Darcy
Round World Consulting
(609) 610-0543 (Cell)
Former New York Governor David Paterson Comments
on Subminimum Wages for Disabled Workers
New York City, New York (July 25, 2011): In advance of planned
protests by the National Federation of the Blind against the payment
of subminimum wages to people with disabilities and the proposed
Workforce Investment Act, Former New York State Governor David A.
Paterson, a member of and consultant to the National Federation of
the Blind, said: "On the eve of the twenty-first anniversary of the
Americans with Disabilities Act, it is more than appropriate that we
call for the language that would reauthorize the practice of paying
subminimum wages to Americans with disabilities to be stricken from
the Workforce Investment Act. We have progressed so far as a nation
since 1938, when the original Fair Labor Standards Act denied people
with disabilities the workforce protection of a federal minimum
wage. Today, we recognize our neighbors' different religions,
different ethnicities, and different backgrounds and embrace the fact
that these differences don't justify discrimination. On August 3,
when this legislation is scheduled to be considered by the members of
the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, they
should strike the language from the bill that discriminates against
Americans with disabilities and ensure that there is equal pay for equal work."
The National Federation of the Blind has announced that its members,
along with other organizations of Americans with disabilities, will
be conducting informational protests across the United States to
raise awareness about the practice of paying wages below the federal
minimum wage to disabled workers. The protests will take place on
July 26, the twenty-first anniversary of the Americans with
Disabilities Act, at the primary district office locations of United
States senators serving on the Senate Committee on Health, Education,
Labor and Pensions (the HELP Committee).
On August 3, the HELP committee is scheduled to vote on the Workforce
Investment Act. Title V, Section 511 contains language reauthorizing
the payment of wages below the federal minimum wage to people with
disabilities.
For more information on the National Federation of the Blind and fair
wages for workers with disabilities, please visit
About the National Federation of the Blind
With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nations
blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in
the United States for the blind led by the blind.
bnet-members-list@nfbnet.org
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