Goodwill in Canada has no Subminimum Wages for Workers with Disabilities.

In stark contrast to Goodwill’s practice of paying subminimum wages to workers with disabilities in America, Goodwill in Canada pays their workers with disabilities the same minimum wage guaranteed nondisabled workers. Thanks to our fiends for forwarding us a copy of the letter. Read the attached letter which is also pasted below. Goodwill 350 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, M1P 2Z4 August 13th, 2012 Goodwill Wages for People with Disabilities Goodwill consists of a network of 165 local, autonomous, community-based organizations in the United States and Canada employing a total of 105,000 team members, 30,000 of whom have a disability. In Canada, Goodwill employs over 1650 individuals. In some jurisdictions in the United States, a percentage of employees’ work under the Special Minimum Wage Certificate, allowing local Goodwills to pay employees with a disability less than the minimum wage. No such program or provisions exist in Canada. No staff at Goodwill Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario earn less than the minimum wage, with or without a disability. In fact many employees earn more; employees also receive health benefits and +have access to a pension plan. Goodwill is committed to creating meaningful work opportunities and providing a living wage for those facing barriers to employment. Goodwill Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario succeeds when our staff succeeds. The contributions made by all members of our team are essential to our ongoing success. We see no distinction in the contributions made to Goodwill by employees with or without a disability and remain proud of the work our staff perform every day to create jobs and green our communities. Regards, Keiko Nakamura Chief Executive Officer Goodwill Industries Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario For Further information please contact: Brian Kellow Manager Marketing and Public Relations Goodwill Greater Toronto, Eastern , Central and Northern Ontario 350 Progress Ave. Scarborough, ON M1P 2Z4 416-815 4785 Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A. Director of Strategic Communications “Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities” http://www.nfb.org/fairwages NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place Baltimore, Maryland 21230 (410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice) (410) 685-5653 (FAX) Email: alewis@nfb.org Web: www.nfb.org