[nfbwatlk] elitists, huh?

[Mike Freeman]

I'ts very convenient for the CEOs of these workshops to trot out the old saw
that they are providing the workers "meaningful work experiences". Talk
about elitism! If such work experiences are so wonderful for the disabled
workers at starvation wages, then perhaps the CEOs would care to work for
the same "wages". After all, it would be the fiscally responsible thing to
do in that it would increase the profits for these nonprofit workshops!

The underlying problem here is that both the parents/relatives/friends of
many of the disabled workers and the workers themselves (mostly with
developmental delays) have been bamboozled by the workshops into believing
that the workers are being given a dignity they've never known. But it's a
false dignity. It separates the workers into "us" and "them" -- the
"normal", "privileged" workers and the disabled workers -- the great
"other". Implicit in this view is that the "normal" deserve a living wage as
a matter of right whereas the "others" are being given wages as a matter of
charity and sufferance rather than a matter of right. So in the end, neither
the workshop personnel or, tragically, those who are responsible for the
well-being of the workers (parents, relatives and, yes, care-givers and the
like) have the expectation that, simply by virtue of being members of the
human race, the disabled workers can and should receive a living wage. Even
more dismally, those responsible for the disabled workers are pathetically
grateful for what crumbs of dignity the disabled workers are thrown and
fight tooth and nail to preserve the system that drops those crumbs!

I know whereof I speak: I have an adopted daughter with fairly severe
developmental delays. In truth, she does not have the stamina, the patience
or knowledge to hold down a production job at the moment. But a firm is
working with her as a volunteer to gain stamina and knowledge with the
expectation that she may eventually be employed at a wage better than the
Federal minimum wage or even Washington state's minimum wage which is quite
a bit higher. If, after some time, this doesn't work out, she will still
have enjoyed herself and will not have been given false hope or be
exploited.

Fundamentally, in fighting to repeal Section 14c of the FLSA, we are
fighting to abolish institutionalized rewards for feelings of superiority.
In the end, the plight of these workers is not unlike the description of the
expectations of the agencies for the blind and the general public described
in "Within the Grace of God". What we're fighting for is nothing less than
the changing of society to reflect the sentiment that "there, within the
Grace of God, do go i.".

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of maurice
mines
Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2013 12:38 AM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] elitists, huh?

No I don't think we're elitist all we want is to be treated fairly and earn
and there's a honest day's wage. Not whatever the shop owners would like to
pay blinding otherwise disabled people. I think what comes to mind is this
is a "shame". I think I will end this by saying yes we're such elitist did
they say that of the people in the generation before mine the ones who
became freedom writers and stood up for voting rights or they elitist?

Sincerely maurice mines. Secretary national Federation of the blind of
Washington Clark County Chapter. Email KD zero I KO at iCloud.com. Phone
360-524-0791.

On Jun 21, 2013, at 10:28 PM, Lauren Merryfield <lauren1 at catliness.com>
wrote:

> Hi,
> I applaud this evening's coverage of Goodwill's subminimum wage situation
on NBC's Rock Center!  So we're elitists, now huh?  Hm Hm Hm. Fifty thousand
of us are elitists.  Wow, what an observation.  
> 
> Mr. Maurer's voice sounded tired, though. I sure hope he is okay. 
> 
> I am hoping this will propel this issue into repealing of the old
subminimum wage provision.  
> 
> I'm glad I was home to watch this presentation; I hope many of you could,
too.
> Thanks,
> Lauren, who would never, ever, ever work for subminimum wages!  No way!
> "Can you think of times when an encouraging word or act helped shape your
life? Someone loved you, spoke kindly to you, gave you a chance or put an
arm around your shoulder and it changed you.  Their encouragement became the
cure for your grief, your discouragement or your loneliness.  You can be
that encourager for others in need." --Bob Patterson
> visit us at catlines.com and lettingthecatoutofthebag.com
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