[nfbwatlk] FW: Governor David Paterson Urges Immediate Passage of Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act

[Mike Freeman]

From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org] 
Sent: Monday, October 10, 2011 7:22 AM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Governor David Paterson Urges Immediate Passage of Fair Wages for
Workers with Disabilities Act

 

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

 

 


Governor David Paterson Urges Immediate Passage
of Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act





New York City, New York (October 10, 2011): David A. Paterson, 55th governor
of the state of New York and a member of and consultant to the National
Federation of the Blind, today urged immediate passage of the Fair Wages for
Workers with Disabilities Act (H.R. 3086), which was introduced in the
United States House of Representatives last week.

 

Governor Paterson said: "It is long past time for the anachronistic
provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act that allows workers with
disabilities to be paid less than the federal minimum wage to be phased out.
As Samuel R. Bagenstos, former principal deputy assistant attorney general
for civil rights, has
<http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/14c_Report_Sam_Bagenstos.doc>
reported, Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act does not encourage
mainstream employers to hire disabled workers; does not result in the
training of workers with disabilities to participate in competitive
employment; and does not even produce wages tied to the alleged lower
productivity of disabled workers, which is a myth in any event.  This
anachronism must be stricken from America's statute books, and workers with
disabilities must receive equal pay for equal work and an equal opportunity
to succeed."

 

 

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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.