[Nfb-or] Fw: [Nfbnet-members-list] 2, 900 Delegates to National Federation of the Blind ConventionUnanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization

[Jerry Hathaway]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Freeh,Jessica (by way of David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>)" 
<JFreeh at nfb.org>
To: <nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 6:58 AM
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] 2,900 Delegates to National Federation of the 
Blind ConventionUnanimously Reject Workforce Investment Act Reauthorization


>
>
> 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.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbnet-members-list mailing list
> Nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.901 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/3749 - Release Date: 07/06/11 
23:34:00