A enterprise on Lengthy Island is on a mission for change.
Mark Cronin, the proprietor of Melville Sock Firm, which employs folks with numerous particular wants, is looking on state lawmakers to proper a significant unsuitable. He stated a present regulation permits firms to pay disabled staff as little as 5 cents an hour.
“It’s time. It’s time that John and our colleagues are treated fairly,” stated Cronin.
He was referring to his son John, who was born with Down syndrome. For the final 9 years, John has helped his dad run the Farmingdale sock firm that has bought over 2 million pairs.
If John had been working for another person, the federal regulation handed greater than 85 years in the past permits his employer to pay him, as a disabled particular person, simply pennies an hour.
However the homeowners of John’s Loopy Socks see issues in a different way. Their enterprise employs 22 folks with what they describe as totally different talents. All are paid above minimal wage.
“They want to be here. they’re enthusiastic. They care about they do,” stated Mark Cronin. “It’s awesome. We succeed because of our colleagues.”
The Cronin father and son crew at the moment are lobbying to get rid of the so-called “subminimum wage.”
In New York, there are 23 firms which have federal permission to pay lower than minimal wage to roughly 1,500 disabled staff.
“I’ve toured these facilities and don’t see much dignity in doing piecework,” stated upstate New York Assemblyman Phil Steck, the sponsor of a invoice to finish what he calls an exploitive observe.
Nevertheless, it appeared possible that Albany lawmakers would fail to go that laws for the eighth legislative session in a row.
“Literally, one of the main opponents to the bill, his argument is: ‘What else are they going to do?'” Steck stated.
A minimum of 13 different states have already voted to get rid of the “subminimum wage.”
“We want my colleagues to be paid fairly,” stated John.
