[Nfb-new-hampshire] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] 2, 900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind Convention Unanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

[Penny Duffy]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Date: Jul 7, 2011 10:06 AM
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] 2, 900 Delegates to National Federation of
the Blind Convention Unanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act
Reauthorization
To: <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>



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

2,900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind Convention Unanimously
Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

Bill Would Endorse Exploitation of Disabled Workers

Orlando, Florida (July 7, 2011): The National Federation of the Blind at its
national convention today voted unanimously to demand fair wages for blind
workers.  The convention is being attended by 2,800 delegates from across
the United States and Puerto Rico.  On Wednesday, July 13, the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will vote on the Workforce
Investment Act (WIA), which contains language reauthorizing the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.   The Rehabilitation Act is supposed
to provide services to disabled Americans so that they can obtain
competitive employment, but Title V, Section 511 of the proposed
Rehabilitation Act language references Section 14(c) of the 1938 Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA), which allows certain entities holding special wage
certificates to pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum
wage.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"Language endorsing the antiquated practice of paying the blind and other
workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage, which is based
on the fallacious premise that disabled workers cannot be productive and do
the same work as their non-disabled peers, has no place in legislation
designed to increase competitive work opportunities for workers with
disabilities.  We believe that this language, in effect if not by design, is
a Trojan Horse provision that will inevitably lead to the placing of workers
with disabilities in subminimum-wage sweatshops.  We demand that the Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee either amend this bill to remove
Title V, Section 511, or simply vote down the entire bill."


###


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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