Who Can Pay Subminimum Wages in Colorado?

Who Can Pay Subminimum Wages in Colorado?

We're in the midst of the Labor Day weekend, and yet most Americans are shocked to learn that anyone in this country can be paid less than the minimum wage.  If you have a disability in America, however, you can.  

In 1938 Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) which set a minimum wage for U.S. workers, along with other worker protections.  In Section 14(c), however, it provided for paying less than minimum wages to workers with disabilities.  Today, some workers are paid as little as 22 cents per hour.  

In 1940 the National Federation of the Blind  was formed, and has opposed subminimum wages from its birth.  In recent years we have redoubled our efforts to end this antiquated, barbaric - but all-too-legal practice.  

H.R. 831 - The Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act - was introduced by Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., to remove 14(c) from the lawbooks and , as the Congressman said in Orlando in July, to ensure that workers with disabilities receive "fair and moral wages.".  H.R. 831 currently has 96 cosponsors, including Colorado's Diana DeGette and Ed Perlmutter.

If you haven't already, read Kevan Worley's post on August 26 for <em>The Blind Coloradoan</em> as he prepared for this week's big event.  On August 28, the National Federation of the Blind took on SourceAmerica, an umbrella organization that facilitates employers of workers with disabilities to receive and profit by federal contracts.  Protesters from the NFB, ADAPT, the Association of People Supporting Employment First, Little People of America, the National Council on Independent Living, and TASH called for SourceAmerica to end its discriminatory practices.

Subminimum wages are not "fair and moral" wages.  Subminimum-wage-paying employers of workers with disabilities invariably claim that they are doing good for  their workers, and some likely believe it.  But they fail to acknowledge that they are exploiting their workers with disabilities and profiting from it.  Let's face it, the subminimum wage is a 19th Century idea embodied in a mid-Twentieth Century law that has no place in the 21st Century!

Yes, Goodwill in Denver and Colorado Springs pay workers with disabilities less than minimum wages, and the NFB of Colorado has walked the picket lines in front of those entities.  But that's not the end of the story in Colorado.  The U.S. Department of Labor records show that 29 entities in this state hold 14(c) certifications.  That means they can pay less than the minimum wages to their workers with disabilities.  Programs that wish to do this must be certified by the LaborDepartment, and they have to re-certify every two years. 

So, who are they?  Below we've taken the 29 Colorado entities from DOL's most current list as of November 1, 2013.  <a href="http://www.dol.gov/whd/specialemployment/CRPlist.htm">The full list</a> is avaible on DOL's web site.  The list shows the company's name, the city where it is located, and its certificate number from DOL to pay less than the minimum wage to workers with disabilities.

1. PARKER PERSONAL CARE HOMES, ARVADA, 06-04794-S-007

2. CONTINUUM OF COLORADO, AURORA, 06-03677-S-038

3. SMITH AGENCY INC., AURORA, 06-04804-S-003

4. NORTH METRO COMMUNITY SERVICES, WESTMINSTER , 06-04007-S-021

5. HOPE CENTER, INC., DENVER, 06-03989-S-012

6. LARADON, DENVER, 06-03837-S-018

7. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF DENVER, DENVER, 06-03956-S-018

8. SHALOM DENVER, DENVER, 06-03700-S-019

9. EASTER SEALS COLORADO, LAKEWOOD, 06-04380-S-040

10. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESOURCE CENTER, LAKEWOOD, 06-03864-S-079

11. "COLORADO MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE FORT LOGAN REHABILITATION SERVICES

", DENVER, 06-03764-S-013

12. SAMPLE SUPPORTS, LONGMONT, 06-04768-S-023

13. FOOTHILLS GATEWAY, INC., FORT COLINS, 06-03945-S-014

14. SCHAEFER ENTERPRISES, INC., GREELEY, 06-03948-S-011

15. LOGAN INDUSTRIES, STERLING, 06-03895-S-037

16. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO SPRINGS, 06-03934-S-026

17. COMMUNITY INTERSECTIONS, COLORADO SPRINGS, 06-04365-S-023

18. COLORADO BLUESKY ENTERPRISES, INC., PUEBLO, 06-03775-S-078

19. PUEBLO DIVERSIFIED INDUSTRIES, PUEBLO, 06-04006-S-024

20. ARKANSAS VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER, LA JUNTA, 06-03702-S-032

21. FOUR SEASONS SERVICES, LAMAR, 06-03908-S-013

22. LAS ANIMAS COUNTY REHABILITATION CENTER, TRINIDAD, 03676-S-066

23. BLUE PEAKS DAY SERVICES, ALAMOSA, 06-04003-S-010

24. SIX POINTS EVALUATION AND TRAINING, INC., GUNNISON, 06-03976-S-010

25. SILVER MOUNTAIN ENTERPRISES, MONTROSE, 06-03774-S-037

26. MESA DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES, GRAND JUNCTION, 06-03772-S-020

27. GRAND JUNCTION REGIONAL CENTER, GRAND JUNCTION, 06-04248-S-019

28. ARIEL CLINIC SERVICES, GRAND JUNCTION, 06-04807-S-010

29. LABOR SOURCE, LAFAYETTE, 06-03838-S-058