After the Department of Labor’s (DOL’s) proposal to abolish subminimum wage for people with disabilities, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler released the following statement:
People with disabilities make valuable contributions to our workplaces and economy. For too long, federal law has allowed employers to pay workers living with disabilities as little as 25 cents an hour—far below the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Today, the Biden administration moves to address that injustice and finally end the subminimum wage for these workers.
The AFL-CIO believes that every worker is entitled to fair pay and a living wage for their labor. The subminimum wage has treated people with disabilities like second-class workers, enabling exploitation and abuse without consequence. Ending this practice is the right thing to do—as it also has wide popular support. The labor movement will continue to fight to empower all workers, regardless of our disability status, and end all pay discrimination in the workplace.
We applaud President Biden and acting Labor Secretary Julie Su for their action, and the many labor, disability and allied advocates who have long fought for this change. We hope that President-elect Trump’s administration maintains this huge leap toward justice for all workers with disabilities.
Contact: Riley Lopez, 202-637-5018