And I must be crazy as all get out, because I don't make a dime either way
on this racket, but yet have protested and even got arrested, with all sorts
of personal hazard and expense over this issue for others with disabilities.
There comes though times in our lives when we must act to the best of our
abilities, as limited as they are to fight oppression in any form.
When I have to take on, up close and personal the entire State of Michigan
apparatchek over this venal abuse of people I do so to the best of my
ability.
I'm working to sue this apparatchek for their abuse of me and my sisters and
brothers too by the way. But, that is rough sledding as there is so much
incestuous relations here politically speaking.
Everyone isconflicted of interest here. It is very incestuous. Even the ACLU
has conflicts of interests. PWD are the unsung classless. We don't even have
standing for the most part in this society.
Let alone those who are blind.
Regardless, I'm pissed off to no end and am working on more legal tilting at
windmills in these regards, especially after my complete exoneration at the
hands of the corrupted State of Michigan.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Jarvis" <carjar82@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2016 11:54 AM
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: pecham ends sub-minimum wages
If I only had answers instead of simply expressing concerns, you'd
probably find me seated at the right hand of my Father, which is in
Heaven.
But however we find an answer, we must support a dignified living wage
for All People. We must never buy into the belief that some people
are more deserving than others. Each of us is as deserving as the
rest of us. If we can't find answers within our present form of
Capitalism, then we need to design a government that supports all of
its citizens.
Carl Jarvis
On 10/8/16, joe harcz Comcast <joeharcz@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Peckham ends sub-minimum wage pay
Judy Putnam ,
Lansing State Journal 7:01 a.m. EDT October 7, 2016
In Michigan, there are about 7,400 workers with disabilities who are paid
less than minimum wage. Julia Nagy/Lansing State Journal
Once employing a few hundred in sub-minimum or commensurate wage jobs, now
all Peckham workers make at least minimum wage.
Peckham Inc.
The manufacturing facility of Peckham Industries, Inc. is near the Capital
Region International Airport.(Photo: Courtesy photo)
LANSING - Peckham Industries Inc. has gotten out of the business of paying
workers with significant disabilities less than minimum wage.
The 40-year-old nonprofit vocational rehabilitation organization still
employs between 70 and 80 of the workers, but, since the end of last year,
their
pay has been supplemented by Peckham Community Partnership Foundation, the
nonprofit's fundraising arm, said Greta Wu, chief human services officer,
in
a written response to questions.
The workers are out of a group of 131 people with significant disabilities
who are referred from the local community health program. Peckham, which
has
seven locations in Lansing, plus worksites in Charlotte; Battle Creek;
Phoenix, Arizona and Coralville, Iowa, employs 1,800 people with
disabilities.
The decision came after a confrontation a year ago at the state Capitol
where Peckham officials and other advocates gathered to mark the 25th
anniversary
of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Protesters interrupted the program, arguing that the state Capitol itself
didn’t comply with the ADA, lacking the needed signage in Braille among
other
concerns. Peckham was targeted for
paying workers with disabilities well below minimum wage
while top officials, such as CEO Mitch Tomlinson, earned six-figure
salaries.
Once employing a few hundred in sub-minimum or commensurate wage jobs, now
all Peckham workers make at least minimum wage.
It’s unclear what will happen to the jobs of those workers into the future.
“Continuation of these workers is dependent on our ability to continue the
subsidy and the availability of jobs,” Wu said.
She said Peckham has been reducing the number of workers earning
commensurate wage since 2013, when a program offering paid vocational
training to special
education students at the Lansing School District’s Beekman Center ended.
The sub-minimum wage jobs are sometimes called 14(c) certificates, referring
to Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
While it ended its 14(c) jobs, the organization still defends the practice.
Wu said that nationally, the number of workers under a 14(c) certificate
has
gone down while the number served in non-work activities has gone up. The
number of employed stayed the same.
Read more:
Mixed reports from other states when workshops closed
“That is the nexus of our concern, that if 14(c) is eliminated, those
individuals that used to work will now be relegated to non-work outings and
unpaid
work,” Wu said.
Paul “Joe” Harcz, a Mount Morris disability rights activist who is blind,
was arrested at the protest for trying to cross a police barricade to
protest
the ADA anniversary event at the Capitol.
Charges of resisting and obstructing police were dropped
by the Ingham County prosecutor in August.
Even with the ending of sub-minimum wage pay, Harcz remains critical of
Peckham and other similar worksites, which he said segregate workers with
disabilities.
“They certainly have nondisabled people. They’re the bosses,” he said.
Workers with disabilities “aren’t getting a choice. It’s a pipeline. Real
choice comes with having options, not with having one option,” he said.
Read more:
'Sweatshops' or a needed choice?
Contact Judy Putnam at (517) 267-1304 or email her at jputnam@xxxxxxx.
Follow her on Twitter
@judyputnam.
94 CONNECT
Source:
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/opinion/columnists/judy-putnam/2016/10/07/peckham-ends-sub-minimum-wage-pay/91316794/
