[nabs-l] Subminimum Wage Issue

[Sean Whalen]

Mike,

 

Excellent points from Arielle. I'd also add, these aren't for profit
businesses, by and large. They are nonprofits that rely on preferential
government contracting terms and charitable donations to operate. Government
and charity are now subsidizing large salaries for the management of these
operations. Why not subsidize the unproductive workers to the level of the
minimum wage? Government subsidizes and people give to help the disabled
workers. That is not what ends up happening. This argument holds even if one
excepts the notion that most individuals with multiple disabilities cannot
produce at a level to justify the minimum wage, which I do not. Surely there
are some though, and they too deserve the equal protection under the law of
having the minimum wage apply. Requiring minimum wage will certainly impose
costs on these nonprofits, but, again, they are not businesses and they
serve a social function that society agreed is important, employing those
with disabilities.

 

Sean