Where I Stand: Let’s treat working poor with dignity they deserve

Thursday, June 26, 1997 | 11:48 a.m.

WHAT'S ALL THIS NONSENSE about paying workfare people less than minimum wage? This kind of action doesn't make good sense economically, and there's no question it isn't fair. It's not fair to the people going to work in an effort to leave welfare, nor is it fair to the people who are already working for or near minimum wages.

Some members of Congress think it would be a grand idea to pay the new workers trying to leave welfare less than the minimum wage. The idea of workfare is to raise them up to become contributing members of society. Now to pay them less than the minimum wage is just one more foot in their backs to hold them down.

Putting workfare out for bid is a sad temptation that some employers would take advantage of in short order. They would soon be using workfare people to replace some of their employees now working for minimum wage. Oh, you don't think anybody would be so cruel? Guess again and read an excerpt from an April USA Today editorial:

"Schools in Baltimore are bringing in welfare recipients to do janitorial work at $1.50 an hour, less than one-third the minimum wage, rather than renew contracts with agencies that supplied custodians at $6 an hour. The new workers continue to receive federally financed welfare benefits, at no cost to the schools.

"It's a sweet deal for the money-short schools and useful work experience for people who soon must get off welfare. But what about those janitors who were displaced? How many are unemployed and candidates for the welfare rolls?

"As Washington and the states push welfare recipients to work, they've created a way for employers, public and private, to replace regular employees with cheaper labor. The losers are folks who had stayed off welfare with low-income work. They're vulnerable to reduced hours, disappearing jobs and lesser wages and benefits.

"A Jersey City, N.J., hospital is cutting full-time aides while hiring people on welfare as 'volunteers' to do the same work.

"In Nassau County, N.Y., a custodian laid off in 1992 and ultimately forced onto welfare, returned to the same job last year -- but as a welfare 'trainee' at lower pay, no benefits and no vacation."

Several Illinois legislators put it best in a statement that all should heed. They wrote:

"While workfare may be helpful in introducing some welfare recipients to the demands of the workplace, without job rights, participants could all too easily be exploited. Treating workfare participants differently from other employees would send the wrong message. It tells them and their potential employers they should not be viewed as members of the work force. In contrast, treating workfare participants as employees, with the rights and protections due employees, will help integrate them into the work force and motivate them to develop and advance on the job."

From the standpoint of fairness and reaching the goal of creating productive citizens, politicians shouldn't even consider further dividing low-paid workers into even lower levels. No American, willing to work, should be turned against another American as they scramble for bread crumbs at the bottom of the socio-economic barrel. They already have a tough life, and we shouldn't make it even more painful.

The Las Vegas Host Lions Club was recently entertained by three former members of the Women's Army Corps. Veterans Mildred Batalias, Dorothy Berry and Judith Lance gave the Lions the history and problems the WAC had to face during World War II. Today, that group of military pioneers is still volunteering by giving thousands of hours to VA clinics and hospitals and as scholarship fund-raisers. ...

Did you ever wonder about all of those prizes you see given away on television programs? Las Vegan Johnny Ventura and his bride went on the "Newlywed Game" show at Caesars Palace last January. They "won" a trip for two to Rio. So what happened? They were put on standby for the plane trip and hotel lodging. "Now, how in heck can you plan a trip like that?" asks Johnny. He couldn't, so he told the company that he wouldn't be used by them. Of course, they already had used him and his bride. ...

SUN reader Rodney Takushi wants to stop in and see me. Any time, Rodney, your letter was most interesting. ... Mary Tabakian wrote a paper about the late District Judge Dell Guy. It was a fine piece of work and won the Spirit of Nevada Award. Congratulations to Mary and Durango High School.