[Nfbnet-members-list] National Federation of the Blind Applauds Ruling Requiring Equal Pay for Disabled Workers

[David Andrews]

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.