[Nyabs] Fwd: Join Us: CDR & Rochester ADAPT to Protest Goodwill’s Subminimum Wages

[Justin Young]

Hello All,

Hope you are doing well.  I wanted to make you aware of an event
related to the NFB Goodwill industries boycott occuring in Rochester,
NY on Saturday August 25 from 11am-1pm.  I am forwarding you an email
sent to me about the event.  If you are able we would enjoy having you
join us.

Thanks,

Justin

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Atias <datias at cdrnys.org>
Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2012 20:15:13 +0000
Subject: Join Us: CDR & Rochester ADAPT to Protest Goodwill’s Subminimum Wages
To: David Atias <datias at cdrnys.org>

CDR & Rochester ADAPT to Protest Goodwill’s Subminimum Wages
Saturday, August 25th from 11am to 1pm
Stoneridge Plaza
1518 W. Ridge Road

Disability groups from all over the nation will be protesting in front
of Goodwill stores to highlight the national boycott called on by the
National Federation of the Blind.  CDR & Rochester ADAPT will be
participating and we invite YOU to join us.

We will meet in the parking lot of Stoneridge Plaza on W. Ridge Road
at 10:45am this Saturday.  If you’ve never participated in a CDR /
ADAPT action before, this is the perfect opportunity.  There will be
no arrests, no police (probably) and a set starting and ending time.
And so far, the weather forecast is perfect for Saturday.  This is
definitely one to bring the kids to!

Wear any ADAPT / CDR / RCIL shirt you have and let’s show Rochester
what Goodwill is doing to its employees with disabilities.  We’ll have
signs, a bullhorn and flyers.  We’ll be staying on the sidewalk –
which is public property – to march, chant and change.  If you have
any questions, e-mail or call Dave at
datias at cdrnys.org<mailto:datias at cdrnys.org> / 546-7510.

Here is the press release from NFB on this action.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Americans with Disabilities to Protest Goodwill’s Subminimum Wages

Protesters to Urge Boycott, Demand Fair Wages

Baltimore, Maryland (August 20, 2012): The National Federation of the
Blind<http://www.nfb.org/> (NFB), one of the oldest and largest
organizations of Americans with disabilities, announced today that it,
along with other organizations of people with disabilities,  will
conduct over eighty coordinated nationwide protests in front of thrift
stores operated by Goodwill Industries International, Inc., the
nonprofit manufacturer and retailer.  The informational protests will
raise awareness of Goodwill’s practice of paying subminimum
wages<https://www.nfb.org/fair-wages> to many of its workers with
disabilities.  Freedom of information requests filed by the NFB
confirmed that Goodwill Industries employees with disabilities have
been paid as low as $0.22 an hour.  The NFB and nearly fifty other
organizations<https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/hr%203086%20support%20list%208-16-12.doc>
of people with disabilities support legislation, the Fair Wages for
Workers with Disabilities
Act<http://nfb.org/Images/nfb/SI/Fair%20Wages%20for%20Workers%202012.pdf>
(H.R. 3086), which would phase out and then repeal the nearly
seventy-five-year-old provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act that
permits special certificate
holders<http://www.dol.gov/whd/specialemployment/CRPlist.htm> to pay
subminimum wages to workers with disabilities.  The protests will take
place on Saturday, August 25, generally from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. local
time at Goodwill thrift store locations throughout the United States.
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the
Blind<http://www.twitter.com/nfb_voice>, said: “Goodwill Industries is
one of the most well-known charitable organizations in the United
States, but most members of the general public are unaware that
Goodwill exploits people with disabilities.  We are conducting
informational protests to make the public aware of this practice that,
although sadly still legal, is unfair, discriminatory, and immoral.
Given its lucrative retail operations and the fact that it can lavish
half-a-million dollars on the salary of its president and chief
executive officer, Goodwill is certainly in a position to stop
exploiting its workers with disabilities.  We are calling upon all
Americans to refuse to do business with Goodwill Industries, to refuse
to make donations to the subminimum-wage exploiter, and to refuse to
shop in its retail stores until it exercises true leadership and sound
moral judgment by fairly compensating all of its workers with
disabilities.”

##

David Atias
Assistant Director of Advocacy
Center for Disability Rights, Inc.
497 State Street
Rochester, NY 14608

(585) 546-7510 (Voice)
(585) 546-7512 (TTY)
(585) 546-7577 (Fax)

www.cdrnys.org<http://www.cdrnys.org/>