(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - After the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL’s) proposal to abolish sub-minimum wage for people with disabilities, National 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.

The Biden Administration move to address that injustice and finally end the sub-minimum wage for these Workers. 

The National AFL-CIO believes that every Worker is entitled to fair pay and a living wage for their labor.

The sub-minimum 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. 

To Directly Access This National AFL-CIO Statement, Go To: AFL-CIO Celebrates Biden Administration Ending Wage Discrimination for Workers with Disabilities | AFL-CIO

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: GOP resists Biden and AFL-CIO-backed plan to raise disabled workers’ pay – People's World