[nfbwatlk] FW: From Kevan Worley: Blind Industry Workers of America (BIWA)

[Jedi Moerke]

Me too. See you there.

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 24, 2013, at 9:18 PM, "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com> wrote:

> I'm gonna be there if I don't have a conflict.
> 
> Blind shop workers unite ...
> 
> I've got "Joe Hill" on my iPhone!
> 
> To the wall, comrades!
> 
> Mike Freeman
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike
> Freeman
> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 6:51 PM
> To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nfbwatlk] FW: From Kevan Worley: Blind Industry Workers of America
> (BIWA)
> 
> From: Chapter-presidents [mailto:chapter-presidents-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Lewis, Anil
> Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 3:50 PM
> Subject: [Chapter-presidents] From Kevan Worley: Blind Industry Workers of
> America (BIWA)
> 
> 
> 
> 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 
> 
> 866-543-6808
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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