[nfbmi-talk] does this mean 14 c is out by exec order?

[Christine Boone]

While this is a positive step, it will not entirely repeal Section 14C. I believe it will mean only that, if an organization wishes to accept a federal government contract and that organization holds a 14C certificate, they will not be able to pay subminimum wages to any worker who is involved in the performance of that contract. Companies can handle this in a number of different ways: Some might opt to let their certificates go, while others may simply choose only their non-disabled workers and highest performing workers with disabilities to work on federal contracts. Under this plan the employer could still pay subminimum wage to its workers with disabilities as long as they did not work on the government contracts. 

Only Congress can actually repeal Section 14C as you know, but at least this move does send a positive message and is a move in the right direction. Perhaps it will motivate Congress to pass HR 831 and to introduce a Senate version. 
Boone Christine Sent from my iPhone

> On Feb 12, 2014, at 9:11 AM, "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net> wrote:
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> Under Obama Order, Workers With Disabilities To Get Pay Hike
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> By
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> Michelle Diament
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> February 12, 2014 Text Size
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> An executive order requiring federal contractors to be paid at least $10.10 per hour will apply to workers with disabilities too, White House officials
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> say.
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> President Barack Obama plans to sign an executive order Wednesday raising the minimum wage for federal contract workers, including those with disabilities
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> employed under service or concessions contracts with the government.
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> The move represents an about-face for the White House. When the plan to hike pay for government contractors was originally announced during Obama’s State
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> of the Union address last month, it
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> left out
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> many workers with disabilities.
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> Under a federal law known as Section 14(c) that dates back to the 1930s, employers can obtain special permission from the U.S. Department of Labor to pay
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> those with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour.
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> Obama administration officials initially said that the executive order would not alter the ability of authorized employers with government contracts to
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> pay so-called subminimum wage. But under pressure from disability advocacy groups, the final version of the executive order will now include such workers.
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> “We applaud the administration for hearing the voices of the disability community and including disabled workers in the new minimum wage protections for
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> contractors,” said Ari Ne’eman, president of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, one of 25 groups that signed a letter from the Collaboration to Promote
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> Self Determination urging the White House to include workers with disabilities.
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> “We hope to work with them going forward to convince Congress to repeal Section 14(c) for all disabled workers,” Ne’eman said. “Equal rights should apply
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> to everyone — President Obama and (Secretary of Labor Tom Perez) helped us take a significant step forward towards realizing that vision today.”
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> The increased minimum wage will apply to new federal contracts and replacements for expiring agreements beginning Jan. 1, 2015, the White House said. The
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> move is expected to bring a pay boost to hundreds of thousands of workers staffing concessions at National Parks, serving food to members of the military
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> and in other roles.
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> It’s not known precisely how many people with disabilities currently earn less than minimum wage as federal contract employees, but such workers are believed
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> to number in the thousands. The White House specifically cited individuals with disabilities working to maintain the grounds on military bases as an example
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> of those who will receive a raise.
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> While some in the disability community say that subminimum wage remains necessary to ensure that employment is available for those with even the most severe
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> disabilities, the practice has been targeted for elimination in recent years by numerous advocacy groups who argue that it is outdated.
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> Source:
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> http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2014/02/12/under-order-pay-hike/19102/
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