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<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">From: "Lewis, Anil"
<ALewis@nfb.org><br>
Subject: Goodwill Informational Protest<br><br>
<div align="center"><a name="OLE_LINK5"></a>Goodwill Informational
Protest<br>
<br>
Taking Our Fight for Fair Wages to the Streets<br>
</div>
<br>
<br>
Where:
Goodwill Thrift Store Locations Around the Country<br>
Date:
August 25, 2012<br>
Time:
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Local Time<br>
<br>
This is an informational protest. Our purpose is to promote public
awareness of the unfair, discriminatory, and immoral practice of paying
subminimum wages to workers with disabilities. Goodwill is a
household name, but most households do not realize that Goodwill is one
of the many employers that pay less than the federal minimum wage to
their workers with disabilities. In order to effect a change in
this policy, we are urging people not to shop at thrift stores affiliated
with Goodwill Industries International and/or donate goods to Goodwill
until they adopt a policy to pay at least the federal minimum wage to all
of their workers with disabilities. Signs will be used to attract
attention and informational flyers will be distributed to the general
public. <br>
<br>
We are aware that some Goodwill-affiliated agencies pay their workers the
minimum wage, and others have chosen to limit the vocational potential of
these individuals by paying them pennies per hour. The agencies
that value their employees with disabilities by paying at least the
federal minimum wage are setting an example for the others to follow, and
they can provide the technical assistance necessary for the others to
adopt a similar business model that pays a competitive wage to every
employee. As a result, Goodwill is in a better position than most
to assist in bringing this discriminatory practice to an end. <br>
<br>
We are setting up informational protests at Goodwill Thrift Store
locations across the country. The protests will occur between the
hours of 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. local time. The following website
can be accessed to find local Goodwill Thrift Store locations:
<a href="http://locator.goodwill.org">http://locator.goodwill.org</a>
. A larger protest makes a better media presentation. More
protest sites provide greater direct public awareness. <br>
<br>
One Goodwill Protest Site Location form should be completed for each
protest site. A form is attached and will be available for download
at:
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/fairwages">www.nfb.org/fairwages</a>.
All completed forms and emailed request should be sent to
<a href="mailto:alewis@nfb.org">alewis@nfb.org</a>. <br>
<br>
Protest signs will be provided when requested. All orders for signs
must be submitted by August 20 to ensure they will be received in time
for the protest. Remember that only the signs will be
provided. Site Coordinator should obtain a four-foot length of
2-inches-wide by 1-inch-thick lumber that will be needed to support each
sign. A staple gun should be used to attach the lumber between two
signs so that the sign can be read from either side. <br>
<br>
Informational flyers will be available for download shortly before the
protest date from
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/fairwages">www.nfb.org/fairwages</a>.
<br>
<br>
Each site will have a Media Contact responsible for dealing with
inquiries from the local media. Of course, our national staff will
be available to assist with this effort. A national press release
about the protest will be issued prior to the event, and a template to
develop a local press release will be distributed and made available upon
request. We will also distribute talking points that can be used by
a local spokesperson when interacting with the media. <br>
<br>
We will be taking our fight for fair wages to the cyber streets as
well. We encourage everyone to take advantage of social media to
spread the word about the protests. Twitter users should Use the
twitter hash tag #fairwages and the Goodwill twitter handle of
@goodwillintl to post about local protests, and Facebook users should
Post comments to Goodwill’s Facebook page at:
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoodwillIntl">
https://www.facebook.com/GoodwillIntl</a>. <br>
<br>
Sincerely,<br>
<br>
Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.<br>
Director of Strategic Communications<br>
<br>
“Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities” <br>
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/fairwages">http://www.nfb.org/fairwages</a>
<br>
<br>
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<br>
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place<br>
Baltimore, Maryland 21230<br>
<br>
(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)<br>
(410) 685-5653 (FAX)<br>
Email: <a href="mailto:alewis@nfb.org">alewis@nfb.org</a><br>
Web: <a href="http://www.nfb.org">www.nfb.org</a><br>
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