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UPDATE 2/12/13:
The disability community has been heard!
According to a White House memo, “Under this Executive
Order, all individuals working under service or concessions contracts with the
federal government will be covered by the same $10.10 per hour minimum wage
protections."
ALL = Workers with and without disabilites
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In his State of the Union Address last week, President Obama
mandated an increase to the minimum wage rates of employees working for
companies doing business with the government. It seems as if the government
does not view workers with disabilities as equal to workers without
disabilities – at least until the disability community yelled out “WHOAH!” In a
letter to the administration signed by 25 disability advocacy groups the point
was made that “all employees” should mean just that. ALL. The government is now
reconsidering its position. According to U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, “We’re
actively looking at what our legal authorities are and what our abilities are”
as they finalize the executive order to increase the minimum wage.
There is a debate going on within the disability community
on whether or not subminimum wage is a detriment or an advantage to workers
with disabilities.
You can read about what both sides have to say on my blog here: Subminimum
Wage For People With Disabilities Debate
