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Season 5, Episode 247

Ending Subminimum Wages: A New Era for Disabled Workers

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Guest Name:


Jewelyn Cosgrove

Guest Website:


Melwood 

Guest Social Media:


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In the fight for fair wages, Jewelyn Cosgrove, Vice President of Government and Public Relations at Melwood, is leading the charge to end the outdated 14C policy. She joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the policy and Melwood’s efforts to restore dignity and economic independence to disabled workers.

At 14, Cosgrove took a stand against statewide assessment testing, igniting a passion for policy advocacy that would shape her career. Today, she channels that fervor into her role at Melwood, a leading employer of people with disabilities. Her commitment to fair wages and equal opportunities drives her in the fight against the exploitation of disabled workers.

Early in December, the Biden Administration announced a proposal to eliminate the 14C policy that Cosgrove believes is outdated. Established in the 1930s, this policy allowed employers to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage, based on productivity assessments. Cosgrove highlighted the flaws in this system, noting that it perpetuates discrimination and undervalues the contributions of disabled individuals. Her advocacy for the elimination of 14C is rooted in the belief that every worker deserves fair compensation, regardless of their abilities.

Navigating the legislative landscape to abolish 14C is complex, but Cosgrove emphasized the importance of bipartisan support and collaboration. She advised organizations to build robust support systems for employees, such as job coaching and career development, to foster an inclusive workplace.

Listen to the full episode for a deeper dive into how Melwood is paving the way for a more equitable future for all workers.


America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues.

America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers.

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