[nfbmi-talk] From Kevan Worley: Blind Industry Workers of America (BIWA)

[Larry Posont]

> National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> 20812 Ann Arbor Trail
> Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
>
> June 24, 2013
>
> Dear Michigan Federationists:
>
>      If you are attending National Convention, please consider
> attending the Blind Industrial Workers of America meeting on July 4.
> Details follow this letter. I look forward to seeing you at
> Convention.
>
> Sincerely,
> Larry Posont
> President
>  National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
>  (313) 271-3058
>  Email: president.nfb.mi at gmail.com
>  Web page: www.nfbmi.org
>
>  Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further Donate your car to the
> National Federation of the Blind today!
>  For more information, please visit:
> www.carshelpingtheblind.org
>  or call 1-855-659-9314
>
>
>
> NFB National Convention Meeting Announcement
> Blind Industry Workers of America (BIWA)
> July 4, 2013
> Salon 6
> 5PM - 7PM
>
>
> Greetings colleagues,
>
> Dr. Maurer has asked Anil Lewis and me to lead an effort
> reconstituting the Blind Industrial Workers of America. As our battle
> for fair wages continues, we must reach more blind workers. It is
> important to harness their experience and expertise earned in the
> trenches on the front line for the common effort. National Industries
> for the Blind (NIB) makes much of the fact that they do not pay blind
> workers less than the minimum wage on Federal AbilityOne contracts.
> They often conveniently ignore the million-dollar contracts they
> perform for state government and private industry. Many NIB shops are
> less than forthcoming about the thousands of blind men and women who
> toil day after day, month after month, year after year in so-called
> work activity centers. NIB says these "work activity centers" are not
> work, but "training and rehabilitation." These work activity centers
> fill contract orders for products. They enhance the bottom line of the
> NIB agency. We know of Federation members with college degrees who
> have attempted to gain advancement to the front office without equal
> consideration with their sighted peers. We know of shops in which
> jokes about the blind are routine among sighted supervisors on the
> factory floor. It is not uncommon for a workshop to provide "rehab
> training" under a contract to the state rehabilitation agency. Talk
> about sitting in the cat bird seat. They get paid to provide
> "blindness skills training" which allows them to channel some workers
> into a work activity center from which the shop profits from those
> same clients doing subminimum wage work on state contracts. The shop
> then regularly administers demeaning time tests which will then allow
> the shop in the cat bird seat to channel some clients to positions on
> the factory floor, which best suits the needs of the sighted
> highly-paid custodians. We need a strong union of Federationists with
> the courage to confront the unfair, discriminatory and corrupt regimes
> prevalent in many shops, whether they are NIB, NISH or any other work
> environment. When non-profit or for-profit companies treat blind
> employees with respect, dignity and equality of opportunity, they will
> welcome the creation of the National Federation of the Blind
> Industrial Workers of America. When they do not, the BIWA will be on
> the front line ready to investigate, publicize and act.
>
> The Blind Industrial Workers of America has a proud tradition in the
> history of the Federation. Please let our colleagues know about our
> upcoming information organizational meeting. If you know of members
> working in JWOD programs or other direct labor, or members of your
> affiliate have an interest in learning about and supporting the effort
> of the BIWA, please encourage their attendance at our meeting. It will
> be on July 4th. We expect the meeting to take less than 2 hours. We
> will meet immediately following the afternoon convention session on
> Thursday, July 4. We will meet in Salon 6. Please announce on your
> state listserves, at your convention caucuses and in your delegation.
>
> The BIWA, a union of Federationists.
>
> *        Building the movement
>
> *        Respect and dignity for all workers
>
> *        Fair wages
>
> *        Better working conditions
>
> *        Equality of opportunity for career advancement
>
> *        21st century training leading to fair pay for real work
>
> *        Blind working men and women have a right to fair treatment
> just like everybody else
>
> *        Blind workers speaking for themselves
>
> At your service,
>
> [cid:image001.jpg at 01CDBCF2.C07B8380]
>
> Kevan Worley
> Executive Director
> National Association of Blind Merchants
> kevanworley at blindmerchants.org<mailto:kevanworley at blindmerchants.org>
> 866-543-6808
>