[IL-Talk] Urgent Action Needed: Raise Your Voice to Eliminate Subminimum Wages in Illinois

Tue May 23 00:00:00 UTC 2023

Hello All,

As many Federationists know, we have been supporting elimination of
subminimum wages in Illinois and nationally. We are supporting Access Living
Chicago, who is advocating for a bill in the Illinois General Assembly.
Please see the below action alert (taken from www.accessliving.org
<http://www.accessliving.org> ) and act as soon as possible. It is important
that the voices of all disabled people be heard. It is also important that
the legislators hear from our family members and friends, who reject the
idea of low expectations for disabled people. Thank you.

"May 22, 2023 | by Amber Smock

Subminimum Wage Phaseout Advocacy Continues

We have an important update for you on Illinois' subminimum wage advocacy:
Late last Friday, Chief Sponsor Representative Mah called the Dignity in Pay
Act, HB 793, to the House floor for a vote after a very passionate debate. A
few cosponsors were absent, so the bill wound up on "postponed
consideration," which means Representative Mah can call it again. So we need
your help again, TODAY!

Below, we updated our action alert instructions, (plus we offer some some
more detail to help people understand the bill better).

  _____  

1. MAKE CALLS/SEND EMAILS AGAIN TODAY

Even if you made calls or sent emails already, we ask that you do it AGAIN
today. People power makes history! Ask your Illinois legislators to say YES
to the Dignity in Pay Act, also known as HB 793 HA 1.
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voter
voice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2FCh4_3_KDHN54We5d3_6bhw&data=05%7C01%7Cjpalliser
%40accessliving.org%7C3be5999f0b4d447c634308db5af8bf22%7C836a1ce092ba45a58e0
154ac42dd1e1d%7C0%7C0%7C638203796650227776%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiM
C4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sd
ata=SqbPV5gUa%2FnfBhlU3%2FD7RGY1rTjks17XunkGpEcpzDc%3D&reserved=0> Here is
the quick action email link. Yes, we need to contact BOTH the House and the
Senate concerning HB 793.

If you can make calls,
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voter
voice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2FAz-R6JrvFSh0TqT_azElpw&data=05%7C01%7Cjpalliser
%40accessliving.org%7C3be5999f0b4d447c634308db5af8bf22%7C836a1ce092ba45a58e0
154ac42dd1e1d%7C0%7C0%7C638203796650227776%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiM
C4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sd
ata=51QgDqYrcuc%2F%2F75PF1T00I2EKxpRSKvu0lFRGgOntvk%3D&reserved=0> look up
your Illinois State Senator and State Representative at this link, then call
their Springfield offices. It's okay to leave a voicemail. You can use the
following sample phone script: 

"Hello, my name is ___ and I'm calling to ask ___ to support the Dignity in
Pay Act. The Dignity in Pay Act is an opportunity to grow employment and
fair pay for people with disabilities who make less than minimum wage. The
House bill number is HB 793 HA 1. Will you let them know to please vote yes?
Thank you."

2: Additional Background Information on Subminimum Wage

Why does the subminimum wage need to be phased out? 

For decades, many people with disabilities were not considered to be "real
workers" like non-disabled people. But the reality is that people with
disabilities want the opportunity to be paid real wages for the real work
they do. It should not matter if you need extra supports to do your
job-you're still doing your job. The film
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voter
voice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2FyyyE7PjsnwwUMvmlkQbsQQ&data=05%7C01%7Cjpalliser
%40accessliving.org%7C3be5999f0b4d447c634308db5af8bf22%7C836a1ce092ba45a58e0
154ac42dd1e1d%7C0%7C0%7C638203796650227776%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiM
C4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sd
ata=y2O0o84ovddcZbzgkLx%2BeiAnIZh2i8fqB8K%2FwrBo%2FqY%3D&reserved=0> "Bottom
Dollars" does a great job at explaining the history of the disability
subminimum wage, and why disabled people want change. 

Is Illinois ready to phase out the subminimum wage? 

Yes! The City of Chicago is already phasing it out, and Governor Pritzker
issued an Executive Order that phases it out for state-use contracts. People
with disabilities and providers are already working to shift the
employment/pay models as necessary. This has been a long and hard process
for all stakeholders involved, but the fact that we could get this bill
passed is a testimony to everyone's dedication to the idea that we all
deserve "dignity in pay."

What else is important to know?

First, the Dignity in Pay Act seeks to ensure persons with physical and/or
developmental disabilities can earn fair compensation for work. It was
developed over many years through discussion with the entire disability
community, including providers that operate facility-based employment
services, commonly referred to as sheltered workshops.

Second, the Dignity in Pay Act will not close sheltered workshops. There is
a common misconception now associated with this Act that is simply untrue -
that this bill will close sheltered workshops. The Dignity in Pay Act does
nothing to prohibit the operation of these employment environments. It does
however, ensure anyone working in the setting must earn a minimum wage. A
Transition Fund will be set up to help those employment environments shift
to a model where people can make at least minimum wage.

Third, the Dignity in Pay Act will support economic empowerment. The Dignity
in Pay Act addresses what has not only emerged as a civil rights issue -
fair pay for workers with disabilities, but also economic empowerment.
Persons with disabilities can maintain the dignity of work and earn enough
money to pay for things important to them.

Fourth, the Dignity in Pay Act WILL protect benefits. This bill ensures
additional recommendations will follow to protect the means tested benefits
(Medicaid and disability services and supports), knowing we have ABLE
accounts in Illinois that also help address this concern. This piece has
been an important part of the discussions over developing the bill in the
last five years.

Fifth, state government will be required to work with/support providers.
This bill ensures state government will work with contracting businesses to
identify what they recommend to maintain contracting work with sheltered
workshops. This could mean incentives, but also more information about the
benefits of employing persons with disabilities as well.

Last but certainly not least, the Dignity in Pay Act supports
self-determination. In the instance that a person working in a sheltered
workshop may choose to do other things with their day, this bill ensures
person-centered plans and meaningful day plans are developed, and that the
personal needs allowance for people who live in CILAs (group homes) or
congregate settings is increased to $100 per month.

What groups support the Dignity in Pay Act? In alphabetical order: Access
Living, Arc of Illinois, Equip for Equality, IARF, Illinois Association of
the Deaf, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities (ICDD), Illinois
Network of Centers for Independent Living (INCIL), National Association of
the Deaf, National Federation of the Blind-Illinois, SEIU HCIIMK, and the
Shriver Center on Poverty Law. Organizations interested in supporting the
Dignity in Pay Act can contact our Economic Justice Policy Analyst, Nick
Boyle, at nboyle at accessliving.org <mailto:nboyle at accessliving.org> . 

Don't wait to send your advocacy email TODAY! Again,
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.voter
voice.net%2FBroadcastLinks%2FCh4_3_KDHN54We5d3_6bhw&data=05%7C01%7Cjpalliser
%40accessliving.org%7C3be5999f0b4d447c634308db5af8bf22%7C836a1ce092ba45a58e0
154ac42dd1e1d%7C0%7C0%7C638203796650227776%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiM
C4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sd
ata=SqbPV5gUa%2FnfBhlU3%2FD7RGY1rTjks17XunkGpEcpzDc%3D&reserved=0> use this
quick link to let your state legislators know we need to pass this bill
ASAP! The time is now. Please share this call to action with your Illinois
networks. Thank you for your advocacy!"

Denise Avant,

1st Vice President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois