[Nfbc-info] National Federation of the Blind Applauds Ruling Requiring Equal Pay for Disabled Workers

[Lisamaria Martinez]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Director of Public Relations
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org


National Federation of the Blind Applauds Ruling Requiring Equal Pay
for Disabled Workers




$1.3 Million in Back Pay and Other Damages Awarded


Baltimore, Maryland (September 20, 2012): <http://www.nfb.org>The
National Federation of the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for
<http://www.nfb.org/fair-wages>fair wages for workers with
disabilities, today applauded a recent ruling by the U.S. District
Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Davenport Division, finding
that a turkey processing service violated the Americans with
Disabilities Act by paying its disabled employees less than federal
and state minimum wages.  The ruling in Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission v. Hill Country Farms, Inc. d/b/a Henry's Turkey Services
(Case number: No. 3-11-cv-41-CRW-TJS) found that the defendant had
"engaged in unlawful and discriminatory pay practices in violation of
the Americans with Disabilities Act," and awarded the workers $1.3
million in back pay and other damages.

<http://www.nfb.org/marc-maurer-bio>Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the
<http://www.facebook.com/NationalFederationoftheBlind>National
Federation of the Blind, said: "We have long contended that the
antiquated practice of paying workers with disabilities less than the
minimum wage is discriminatory and out of step with the enlightened
view of the capacity of workers with disabilities reflected in
statutes like the Americans with Disabilities Act.  For this reason,
we are calling for
<https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/fair-wagesforworkers-2012.pdf>the
repeal of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which, based
on the fallacy that workers with disabilities are not productive,
authorizes the payment of subminimum wages to workers with
disabilities.  This ruling, in a case with facts that ought to shock
the conscience of every American, makes it clear that a labor practice
dating from the 1930s is fundamentally irreconcilable with modern laws
prohibiting discrimination against workers with disabilities.  We hope
that the United States Congress will soon update the nation's statutes
by phasing out Section 14(c) so that no employer can ever again engage
in such unconscionable discrimination."


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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.