Blind Activists Boycott Goodwill Over Subminimum Pay

[xchrom]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/13747/activists_for_the_blind_take_to_the_streets_line_break_in_pay_protest_again/


In Baltimore's historic Fells Point district, picketers march in support of the Goodwill boycott. (Federation for the Blind)

BALTIMORE – The National Federation for the Blind (NFB) escalated its pay protests against Goodwill Industries with August 25 sidewalk pickets at some 90 retail locations around the country.

The informational pickets are aimed at publicizing the NFB call for a consumer boycott against Goodwill over its policy of paying subminimum wages to thousands of workers with disabilities.

Federation spokesperson Chris Danielsen says his organization has been able to document cases where Goodwill affiliates have paid disabled employees as little as 22 cents an hour.

In Baltimore–home to the NFB national headquarters–the protest took place on a busy Saturday afternoon in one of the city’s busy downtown tourist districts. With about 20 spirited picketers clustered around a storefront Goodwill outlet, the protest was effective in spreading the word to thousands of city residents and out-of-town visitors, Danielsen says.

[patrice]

1. This is happening in Kansas City, MO, too. nt

[hobbit709]

2. I know some people who used to work at Goodwill

They saw it start changing from an organization that was helping people to a corporate mentality entity. that was over 20 years ago.

[Ednahilda]

3. So sorry to hear this.

I've been donating to Goodwill rather than Salvation Army because I really prefer not to support overtly religious organizations. Darn!

[xchrom]

4. yes. this is very disappointing to hear. and i'll have to change my donations as well. nt

[99Forever]

6. I'd recommend you instead donate ..

... to Disabled American Veteran's organizations in your area.

Goodwill has been paying their corporate staff as if they were "captains of industry" for a very long time. "Capitalists" have no integrity when it comes to lining their own pockets. Old.. sick... poor.. disabled... doesn't matter as long as they cash in.

[cthulu2016]

5. Please read the Whole Story before jumping to Conclusions

Whatever conclusions one does ultimately draw, they will not be based on the assumption that Goodwill typically pays its disabled employees 20 cents an hour... or even that Goodwill typically pays disabled employees below minimum wage.