(snip)"Steffi Edwards is one of the Centers for Habilitation's employees whose hourly wage is based on a federal law that allows a lower pay scale to reflect a disabled worker's reduced ability. But Arizona's new voter-approved minimum-wage law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, neglected to include an exemption for disabled workers and supersedes the federal law.
As a result, about 75 employees at TCH's Tempe job center will, at least temporarily, lose their jobs. So will about 25 employees in Tucson. "(snip)
"If the law remains as is, industry experts say almost 5,000 Arizonans with disabilities will lose their jobs.
But Etchechury criticized TCH's decision.
"Quite frankly, that is shortsighted," Etchechury said.
"We have to look past the money and to the needs of the people. I don't think there is any entity that would essentially hold someone accountable when clearly the regulating agency is saying, 'We don't know.' "
Yet, that isn't enough to quell fears at TCH. The group could be fined for not following the rules, leaders there said.
"TCH has never willfully broken the law, and they can't and won't at this point in time," said Vicki Kringen, the agency's vice president and chief financial officer. Also, paying the full $6.75 per hour for all TCH workers would cost an extra $425,000 a year.
The group can't afford it, said Dave Cutty, TCH president and chief executive officer.
Plus, he said, it doesn't make sense because the employees work at an average 35 percent productivity compared with someone who is not disabled. "(snip)
"Those are the same disabilities that bar them from finding other employment, said Sarah Bruner, a Tempe nurse whose 39-year-old sister, Beth Bruner, is a TCH employee.
Sarah said the TCH job gives Beth, who has cerebral palsy, a sense of independence and intellectual stimulus. Losing the job would be "devastating."
Sarah also worries about what will happen if the law remains as is and her sister is paid $6.75 an hour.
That, Sarah said, would bring Beth to an income level that could jeopardize the family's access to [social welfare programs providing free - sic] care, travel assistance, health care and even prescription drug coverage.
"Would I have to quit my position as a nurse so I know she's taken care of?" Sarah said.
"Talk about unintended consequences. This has implications like I couldn't even imagine when I checked that 'yes' box when I voted.""(snip)
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Sophia_Starina = stripper goddess
Let them pay.

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