[Nfbmo] Op-Ed sent to St. Louis Post-Dispatch regarding sub-minimum wages in St. Louis

[Roger Crome]

Hi All!

Gary, my thoughts on this are based on my personal experience with working
in the sheltered workshop setting.  I understand that some guardians will
not want to see their family member go to work and may choose the adult day
hab option, but I can't think of one person that I worked with that could
not be worthwhile in competitive employment.  Pretty much the only thing
limiting the employability of the individuals is the perception of those who
are supposed to be supportive of them.  I was lucky enough to escape the
modern day slavery market and found a good job, but unfortunately, many of
my friends still work in these settings.  I personally say that we hold the
line of real work for real pay and let the chips fall where they may for
those who will not transition to competitive employment.  Plus, I think the
revenue in these places is sufficient to maintain minimum wage for their
employees.  So, I think that those in favor of the subminimum wage standards
are simply using a scare tactic or honestly believe what they are saying.  I
believe they are wrong.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Roger

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbmo [mailto:nfbmo-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Wunder via
Nfbmo
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 11:33 AM
To: 'NFB of Missouri Mailing List'
Cc: Gary Wunder
Subject: Re: [Nfbmo] Op-Ed sent to St. Louis Post-Dispatch regarding
sub-minimum wages in St. Louis

I have been told that the meeting tomorrow is closed. I wonder under what
conditions the city Council can close its meeting? I think it is generally
accepted that you can do so if you are talking about a personnel matter, but
my assumption was that most public business had to be discussed in the full
light of day under the freedom of information act.

Dan, I hope your op-ed makes it. I think it would be wonderful if other
people in St. Louis would share the letters they have written or results of
their telephone calls. After all of the coverage given this issue in the
Braille Monitor, I have to admit that I am surprised that most people don't
understand just how many advantages those who operate sheltered shops have.
I find people who are shocked when they realize that the revenue from the
sheltered shop is often used to fund other programs. If this is such a bad
business that you can't pay your workers at least the minimum wage, how do
you afford the executive salaries, and how do you sponsor programs other
than those directly benefiting the people who do the work to generate the
money? Wouldn't it be great to run a business in which any profit you would
make could go back into the business and would not have to be given to
investors? Wouldn't it be great if part of your business was to have an arm
that did charitable solicitations? Wouldn't it be great if your business
didn't have to pay any tax? Wouldn't it be great if your business got
preferential treatment in bidding on federal contracts? I am describing the
advantages given to sheltered shops. All of this is set up to accommodate
those who may not be as productive as others, but too many folks don't seem
to understand just how significant these business advantages are.

What about people who are so disabled that they can't work? Should we bend
the definition of work so it makes them feel good, or should we come up with
some kind of compassionate program that would more accurately be defined as
adult day care? At least some of the people who are said to be against
exempting the disabled from minimum wage our parents and caregivers who need
some relief from the 24x7 obligation. Again, should we continue to call make
work real work or should we come up with a program that provides reasonable
respite care? 

Any thoughts?


_______________________________________________
Nfbmo mailing list
Nfbmo at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbmo_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Nfbmo:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbmo_nfbnet.org/rogerc%40lifecilmo.org