[Ct-nfb] FW: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] USBLNR Issues Position Statement about Subminimum Wage for Workers with Disabilities

[Elizabeth Rival]

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:nfbaffiliatepresidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Lewis, Anil
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 10:45 AM
To: Affiliate Presidents (nfbaffiliatepresidents at nfbnet.org); NFB Chapter
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Subject: [NFBAffiliatePresidents] USBLNR Issues Position Statement about
Subminimum Wage for Workers with Disabilities




USBLNR Position Statement about
Subminimum Wage for Workers with Disabilities


The US Business Leadership NetworkR (USBLNR) is a national, non-profit,
non-partisan business-to-business network promoting workplaces,
marketplaces, and supply chains in which people with disabilities are
included.  The USBLNR serves as the collective voice of over 60 Business
Leadership Network affiliates across the United States, representing over
5,000 businesses.  Additionally, the USBLNR Disability Supplier Diversity
ProgramR (DSDP) is the nation's leading third-party certification program
for disability-owned businesses, including service-disabled veterans.

The USBLNR promotes workplaces, marketplaces, and supply chains in which
people with disabilities can realize their full potential and be respected
for their talents, economic self-sufficiency, and entrepreneurship.  USBLNR
members recognize the return on investment in recruiting and retaining the
best talent regardless of disability.

Under current laws, employers may not discriminate against qualified
individuals with disabilities who with or without reasonable accommodations
can perform the essential functions of the job.  Section 14(c) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act (FLSA) allows the Secretary of Labor to grant special
wage certificates to employers, permitting them to pay their workers with
disabilities less than the minimum wage.  Section 14(c) was intended to be
used only "to the extent necessary to prevent curtailment of opportunities"
for employment of people with disabilities.   The USBLNR believes that this
exception in for-profit companies is unnecessary and counter to the goals of
equal opportunity.

Many USBLNR member companies have taken proactive measures to hire qualified
individuals with significant disabilities who had unnecessarily worked in
segregated environments in which they earned significantly below minimum
wage. Once entering a competitive work environment with reasonable
accommodations and training, these qualified employees are able to maintain
and exceed performance standards, often earning well above minimum wage, in
an integrated setting. We maintain that all qualified employees, including
those with disabilities, should receive equal pay for equal work as do their
colleagues without disabilities. As an organization, the USBLNR is committed
to this end.



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 at nfb.org<mailto:alewis at nfb.org>
Web: www.nfb.org<http://www.nfb.org>
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