[NFBF-Tampa] Help Stop the Exploitation of Disabled Workers!

Wed Jan 18 23:47:50 UTC 2017

Dear Tampa Bay Chapter Members,

                As you know, we will be conducting a local screening of
Bottom Dollars, a Rooted in Rights documentary exposing the exploitation of
disabled workers under Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. We
have invited the Hillsborough County legislative delegation to this
screening to learn more about this issue and how they can help. We currently
have two legislators who have confirmed that their staff will attend this
event and a few others who have tentatively agreed to send staffers. In
addition, we have asked instructors from the University of South Florida and
University of Tampa to offer incentives for their students studying social
policy issues in the Social Work, Rehabilitation Counseling, Political
Science, Sociology, and Public Administration departments for attending this
screening. We really need your help hosting this event and want to urge you
to join us on Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m. in the John F. Germany
Library auditorium. If you are willing to help out, please reply to this
message or send an email to Merry Schoch at

MerryS at verizon.net

                Also, please forward this message on to anyone you feel
would be interested in learning more about this issue and helping us make a
difference! If you have any questions, please feel free to write, as well.
We look forward to seeing many of you on Saturday!

Fraternally yours,

Marion 

Please circulate the following information as widely as appropriate.
Attached to this message is a flyer about this event, along with a
comprehensive list of Florida companies paying subminimum wages and the
number of employees who receive less than the minimum wage.  If you receive
this message without the attached information, please send a message to

Merry Schoch, LCSW

MerryS at verizon.net

(813) 625-1850 

Do you know

$ Nearly 250,000 disabled workers legally earn less than the minimum wage

$ 78 employers in Florida legally pay their disabled workers less than the
minimum wage

$ 6502 Disabled workers in Florida are earning less than the minimum wage 

$ 10 employers in the Tampa Bay area legally pay their disabled workers less
than the minimum wage 

$ 793 disabled workers in the Tampa Bay area earn less than the minimum wage

When the Fair Labor Standards Act passed in 1938, it included a
revolutionary civil rights protection: a minimum wage. American workers
could no longer be exploited for their hard work - with one huge exception.
Section 14(c) of the Act included an exemption allowing some workers, people
with disabilities, to be paid less than minimum wage.

This provision was originally designed to persuade employers to hire people
with disabilities and open up opportunities. Instead, people with
disabilities were often employed in "sheltered workshops," segregated
workplaces away from their communities, earning sub-minimum wage.  78 years
later, 14(c) remains in effect.

In 2016, nearly 250,000 people were legally paid less than the minimum wage,
on average, less than $2.00 per hour with some earning only pennies per
hour. You can help stop the exploitation of disabled workers!

On Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 pm., The National Federation of the Blind of
Florida will screen "Bottom Dollars", an hour-long documentary that exposes
the   exploitation of people with disabilities through personal stories and
expert interviews. It also presents clear employment alternatives with
competitive wages and community inclusion. This screening will be held at
the John F. Germany Library auditorium, located at 900 N. Ashley Street in
Tampa. Light refreshments will be served and the NFB will conduct an open
Discussion and question & answer session after the screening, along with
information about how you can make a difference for our disabled community.
For more information about this screening or about 14(c) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act, please contact Merry Schoch at 813-625-1850 or email her at
<merrys at verizon.net>

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