[Capchapohio] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: Americans with Disabilities to Protest Goodwill’s Subm inimum Wages

[Eric Duffy]

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*From:* David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
*Date:* August 21, 2012 5:38:56 AM EDT
*To:* nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org
*Subject:* *[Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: Americans with Disabilities to
Protest Goodwill s Subm inimum Wages*


*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
*Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen at nfb.org

*Americans with Disabilities to Protest Goodwill's Subminimum Wages

Protesters to Urge Boycott, Demand Fair Wages
*

*Baltimore, Maryland (August 20, 2012):* The National Federation of the
Blind <http://www.nfb.org> (NFB), one of the oldest and largest
organizations of Americans with disabilities, announced today that it,
along with other organizations of people with disabilities,  will conduct
over eighty coordinated nationwide protests in front of thrift stores
operated by Goodwill Industries International, Inc., the nonprofit
manufacturer and retailer.  The informational protests will raise awareness
of Goodwill's practice of paying subminimum
wages<https://www.nfb.org/fair-wages>to many of its workers with
disabilities.  Freedom of information requests
filed by the NFB confirmed that Goodwill Industries employees with
disabilities have been paid as low as $0.22 an hour.  The NFB and nearly
fifty other organizations<https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/hr%203086%20support%20list%208-16-12.doc>of
people with disabilities support legislation, the
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities
Act<http://nfb.org/Images/nfb/SI/Fair%20Wages%20for%20Workers%202012.pdf>(H.R.
3086), which would phase out and then repeal the nearly
seventy-five-year-old provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act that
permits special certificate
holders<http://www.dol.gov/whd/specialemployment/CRPlist.htm>to pay
subminimum wages to workers with disabilities.  The protests will
take place on Saturday, August 25, generally from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local
time at Goodwill thrift store locations throughout the United States.
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the
Blind<http://www.twitter.com/nfb_voice>,
said: "Goodwill Industries is one of the most well-known charitable
organizations in the United States, but most members of the general public
are unaware that Goodwill exploits people with disabilities.  We are
conducting informational protests to make the public aware of this practice
that, although sadly still legal, is unfair, discriminatory, and immoral.
Given its lucrative retail operations and the fact that it can lavish
half-a-million dollars on the salary of its president and chief executive
officer, Goodwill is certainly in a position to stop exploiting its workers
with disabilities.  We are calling upon all Americans to refuse to do
business with Goodwill Industries, to refuse to make donations to the
subminimum-wage exploiter, and to refuse to shop in its retail stores until
it exercises true leadership and sound moral judgment by fairly
compensating all of its workers with disabilities."

For more information about the protests, contact Anil Lewis, director of
Strategic Communications at the National Federation of the Blind, by phone
at (410) 659-9314, extension 2374, or by e-mail at alewis at nfb.org.   For
more background regarding this critically important issue, please visit
www.nfb.org/fair-wages.
*
###
*


*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 nation's 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.


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