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Paying disabled workers a higher wage and getting ready for everyone to turn Irish in the cities.

We'll.

We're days away from Saint Patrick's Day festivities.

In a moment, we talk with one of the organizers from the Saint Patrick's Society about what's in store.

But first, fair wages.

For years, businesses have been able to pay disabled workers less than the minimum wage.

It was seen as an incentive to hire the disabled, who may otherwise be unable to find work.

But that all is changing under the new Illinois Dignity in Pay Act that removes what's called the sub minimum wage for the disabled in the state.

But it may come with some consequences.

We're joined by the head of the arc of the Quad Cities executive director, Michael Glanz.

Michael, thank you for joining us.

First off, I appreciate you being here.

Let's talk about the, dignity in pay law.

In many ways, the arc of the Quad Cities is already trailblazing this area, so it doesn't really impact, you know?

Yeah.

Currently, dignity and pay, although it is a transformative law that we are very supportive of.

It doesn't have many direct impacts on the arc of the Quad Cities area, because we already eliminated some minimum wage a couple of years ago.

And we're really proud of the work we did around doing that.

We're proud of employing people at minimum wage or above and really quality jobs, and we're proud of everything we've done.

But then we're very supportive of the Dignity and Pay Act and what it does to really sunset an unfair employment practice across the state of Illinois, where people with disabilities were able to earn less than the minimum wage, which really then kind of sets, policy, directive that people with disabilities are maybe less than or shouldn't earn the same as other people.

And so we really applaud the advocacy around that.

We applaud the, the highlighting people with disabilities.

And they should be making the same minimum wage as anyone else, in the country or in the state of Illinois.

And so we really we're really happy to see the Dignity and Pay Act, and its passage.

We actually got to go and see it signed by the governor of Illinois, that final bill and see it sign.

And it's really see that landmark time when Illinois can phase out that practice of sub minimum wage.

The real concern, of course, and that you've heard it and you've had to deal with it as you transition over the last two years.

Is that it may, reduce the number of opportunities for those with disabilities.

In other words, employers, instead of having three people, might have two.

Did you see that?

We did.

So as we made a transition.

We had a focus on quality jobs over necessarily the quantity of jobs.

So we do.

Currently, although the arc of the Quad Cities area has maintained that about 20% of our workforce has is a person with a disability, and we've been able to, in certain pockets, actually grow our employment, we did see in our traditional business enterprise or flex that there was a little a decrease in employment.

However, we saw really great quality outcomes in the people that were employed.

They've they're making a lot more money.

They were able to spend and buy things that they want to get.

They're having much more economic impact.

And then we're actually seeing that we're a model employer, that it's not just people that are necessarily served by the Arc or the Quad Cities area, but we're getting, people that are maybe getting services from other organizations as well are coming to work for us because we're such a great employer, in our business enterprises.

So what we did see is that we did reduce the number of people that were employed, but then many of those people that were earning maybe, less than a minimum wage or earning less money, it wasn't it was not necessarily about the money they were earning that was making them happy, but it was the engagement and the activity of having a job and having purpose in life.

And so we've had a focus on is building purpose.

That's not maybe not necessarily tied to employment for everyone or finding them community employment where they do, but their skills really match and they can be productive in that employment.

So it's kind of a both and approach, for those people that are maybe no longer employed at the arc of the Quad Cities area, but we found great volunteer opportunities for people.

We love it.

We work with a bunch of nonprofit partners in the Quad Cities area that have really welcomed our individuals so that they can find purpose and meaningful and and meaning in their lives.

And by giving back really to the community still by volunteering.

Or then we found a number of people, community jobs as well.

Well, and as we said, you've been transitioning over the last two years, without the dignity and pay law being put in effect.

Now that it is being put in effect and it's going to be phased in statewide, how have other groups across the state contacted you to find out your successes and perhaps the lessons you learned?

Yes.

We haven't.

So other agencies have really reached out because we're seen as a leader that recently transitioned away from, paying some minimum wage.

And so we've been we've been talking to, different agencies across the state of Illinois.

We've held open houses at our our place of business, our QQ flex, business enterprise, where we, we kind of hosted people, let them kind of tour, let them see what we've done, let them see the new, the new box cutting machines that we've purchased, the new printing machines that we purchase, the new assembly lines that we created, that all sped up productivity of people with disabilities so they can earn that higher wage.

And then we also we continue to do things of reaching out through different conferences, presenting, kind of sharing our story across the state to ensure that really all agencies can, succeed in the elimination of 14.

See, and then I think we've we've also had a unique opportunity.

Part of that legislation is and what I love about this dignity and pay and why I think it is really great transformative piece of legislation is it did focus a big it focused on eliminating, eliminating, paying some minimum wage, but then it also focused on creating infrastructure for those agencies to be successful.

So there's grants out there to help these agencies transform their services would have been helpful for the Arc while we were doing it.

But I think I'm very, very hopeful for our friends and other agencies that they can take that money and kind of and use it to transform their, services.

And then it's also created a lot of work forces and, task forces that are really built to ensure that the outcomes that this bill intended, which is actually that we increase community competitive employment for people with disabilities, is the outcome that we see so that we don't just see less people working, but that we actually see more people working.

And those task force are looking at than what resources are needed for that.

The state needs to provide to ensure providers and people with disabilities are successful in finding employment opportunities.

Also, what, what system transformation initiatives need to occur?

So maybe the state needs to do your business a little bit differently of how it promotes people, helps promote people with disabilities as great hires for companies, how it reaches out to it through its, statewide network, how it of employers, how it does employs people itself, and how maybe it kind of engages with people with disabilities to become state employees as well.

And then also and just kind of really ties and make sure the system is all working together, that when any person with a disability, at any stage in their life says, you know what, I want to work.

I want to be a productive citizen, that they can enter and kind of get that help from anyone and be told the right information.

Of course, we're a border community, bordering Iowa, Illinois, minimum wage at $15 an hour.

$7.25 is the Iowa minimum wage.

What type of challenge is that?

Actually, yeah, that's a that's a great question.

And it did.

It did.

So right when we decided we were going to eliminate some minimum wage at the AKA the Quad Cities area is really when those increases to minimum wage, annual increases really started to happen to really phase in that $15 an hour.

So it made it a little bit more difficult for us on our journey to do that.

But at the end of the day, I think it's it's been a success.

For us, we've continued to be able to pay that higher minimum wage.

We changed our it really challenged us again to be just way more efficient to invest in different machinery, to invest in the products and lines and things of that nature, to make sure that we could pay that higher minimum wage.

And then even when we're out in business or we live in the the Quad Cities community, and we can help people and we've helped people get jobs or community jobs on both the Iowa and the Illinois side.

And I would say that rarely do we have people, when we're helping them get jobs on the Iowa side.

Do we have them saying, oh, I want to work for seven and a quarter?

It's they're looking for higher wages over there as well.

And I really expect in those higher wages.

And so I think, it hasn't affected us too much or that, that different minimum wage.

Because I think the jobs do exist even in Iowa that are paid higher than 725 for people with disabilities, because our people can be very productive and very good employees at a lot of different companies.

Yeah.

And let's talk about that, because, I mean, you've tried to reach out, through the community to different businesses to point out the benefits of employing, disabled people.

What is your pitch to a to a company that's going.

I'm not sure I can handle that.

Well, I think our pitch is always to figure out.

So what is the need of that company?

So maybe is there is there jobs that they're struggling to fill?

Is there places where they're having constant turnover?

Is there places that they can maybe pull off a piece of the job that someone doesn't like, and that, that they don't like doing on their daily basis, but then a person with a disability could come in and do that and actually fully love that job and love what they're doing and show up every day to do it.

And that's when we pitch our the people have disabilities.

I mean, oftentimes when we find that good match, a person with a disability may work for a company for for longer than most people work for companies.

These days, the turnover is much lower, usually with the people that we serve and the job matches that we find.

They'll stay in those jobs for ten, 20, 30, 40 years, with the companies and really have loyalty to those employers that took a chance and hired them.

And then they show up on a day to day basis, and then they get to know and sometimes are more productive than the new hire.

That's just learning the job.

And so I think there's all sorts of benefits.

And usually, you have a better workplace culture when you do focus on that inclusion and having people with disabilities as part of your workforce, because it just kind of helps it make sure that you're a company that's giving back your company, that values everyone.

And you're saying that it's smaller companies, even mom and pop shops that seem to be more receptive to the, prospect of hiring those that are disabled.

Yeah, I think those those medium sized businesses, those kind of smaller operations are more flexible.

And so they're able to incorporate the people with disabilities or hire the people with disabilities incorporated into their workplace culture a little bit easier to make those little changes.

So if they need to maybe just change how they share the schedule with that person to ensure that they understand when their hours are scheduled, when they get there, if they have to make little changes because of the bus schedules or something.

One of the biggest barriers for the people we serve as the transportation to and from work.

And so making some of those adjustments of when they need a person to make sure that that person can be successful, and that usually happens that are medium sized businesses or their smaller businesses where they're more adapted, adaptable and flexible.

Unemployment rate is that very low levels right now?

Does that make it more difficult as well?

That that perhaps there's not as many jobs out there.

I think it's it makes it a little bit more difficult when there's low unemployment because then there's a lot of people going for those jobs.

And so there's, there's just competition of when the jobs are open.

We do see, but again, I think we've, we've got great hard working people.

They just happen to have disabilities.

And so I think it's about finding those right matches, anywhere.

And it can kind of happen in any unemployment climate.

So yeah, sometimes when unemployment is high or when they are, when employers are struggling to find people and I still think even though unemployment is low, we still hear from a lot of employers that some of their frontline jobs, they can't get enough people in those jobs.

They can't.

They are struggling to hire, and especially those frontline jobs.

And that's where a lot of our people with disabilities succeed.

And then and then can be more consistent.

And I'll be a consistent, hire and have longevity hire for those employers.

We are seeing a lot of talk about federal cutbacks, throughout the federal government.

How do you think that's going to impact, those that are helping, disabled citizens find valuable work?

I think it'll impact, unseen of how it's going to impact that firing, finding, impactful work and finding jobs for people with disabilities.

I do worry that sometimes the, I there's been a lot of talk about diversity, equity and inclusion, and inclusion has always been a core component of the message around hiring people with disabilities.

And so we kind of the uncertainty of what some of those conversations may bring is, is concerning for us, we as an agency and as an employer, that supports people with disabilities.

We're always the thing we're the most concerned about.

And looking at, federally is to ensure that we protect Medicaid.

We really need to protect Medicaid.

That's a lifeline for a lot of the people we serve and the people looking for employment.

So even, a lot of employers build people with disabilities.

They may use a wheelchair, and it's Medicaid that helps them get out of bed every morning.

It's Medicaid that helps them use the restroom.

It's Medicaid that helps them, with getting their meals and eating.

However, they can still be productive members of society and have jobs and really hold them.

Community.

Is that critically important for you to spread that message?

I mean?

To speak for those that can't speak for themselves in a way.

Correct.

I think it's extremely important for everyone.

So it's extremely important for myself.

It's extremely important for the people with disabilities to be sharing messages of how important Medicaid is to them and how it really helps support them in their daily lives.

So it's not just, it's there when you need it.

It's not just a handout, but it really helps and makes someone productive in their daily lives.

Every day.

It's that getting up.

Yeah.

Getting up, ensuring that you have the supports needed to be successful and it all flows through Medicaid and once again, dignity and pay.

Now, the law of land in Illinois, we're seeing it in more and more states.

Do you think that someday that might be a national trend?

I believe, yes, I believe so.

I think that, I am very proud that Illinois was the 18th state to join, elimination of sub minimum wage, across the state and that, very proud to, to be here in Illinois and to support that legislation and that we are kind of continue to be a leader then.

But I think we'll eventually hit that kind of tipping point with 18 and then 19 and more and more states, and then we'll probably see some federal action to eliminate 14 C and sub minimum wage.

And I'd actually say this is one of those topics that has been, across the nation, pretty bipartisan in nature, that people kind of in all walks of life, understand that there is a component of allowing someone to be paid less than minimum wage is just isn't a boost.

Anyone's, self-confidence or a boost to anyone's self-worth?

When you're paying them less than the person that might be working right next to them.

Our thanks to the arc of the Quad Cities executive director, Michael Glanz.

Now, in a moment, preparations for Saint Patrick's Day.

But for some of the great events ready for you in the cities right now.

Thanks to visit Quad Cities.

Check out the things to do this week in the Quad Cities.

Start off with heading to Quad City Arts to see the Rock Island Gallery on March 4th.

Then you can watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at the Putnam Museum on March 6th.

Next, check out the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild exhibition at the figgy Art Museum on March 7th.

Also on March 7th, you can go to the Antique Spectacular Vintage Market at the Shaka Expo Center.

And finally, you can watch Quad City Storm Wrestling Night on March 8th at the Vibrant Arena at the Mark.

For more events like these, check out our events calendar at visit Quad cities.com.

It said that for one day every year, everybody is Irish.

But the celebration of Saint Patrick in the cities takes up more than one day.

And it's more than just a parade.

We talked with the president of the Saint Patrick Society of the Quad Cities, Joseph Patrick Dooley.

Well, thank you for joining us.

Everyone talks about the parade.

That's the first thing everyone talks about.

It is what, 39 Grand Parade?

39.

And it's grand parade.

I try to brand it that way.

I don't care for Saint Patrick's Day parade because we don't always march on the 17th.

So just so if anybody outside the area, they know it's March 15th this year, the largest buys that we're only, as far as we know, the only pride in the country.

And the coldest one, if you're trapped on the Centennial Bridge which may have been repeated.

Yes.

In, in, in 22 and 23 Arctic temperatures, it was the coldest ever.

There's no wind break up there.

No, 2012, it was 83 degrees last year it was 60.

And we've seen it also canceled due to snow.

Not that that's going to happen, but I mean, a little bit of everything.

We've never canceled due to weather.

We the only year we actually canceled in 20 because of Covid, right.

And then in 21 we postponed it.

Oh I'm sorry.

And we have we had a special parade in August and it was hot.

Yeah.

But yeah, I remember the the postponement.

I, I'm sorry for saying cancellation and it was inclement weather.

Yeah.

But it is not all of Saint Patrick's celebration.

And I think that's so important.

So let's start backing up a little bit because you've got, so many events before the parade.

Well, the parade is the culmination.

I look at it as the celebration of, I call it our American Irish heritage, you know, celebrate family and history and contributions and the hardships.

But on Friday, we have our gathering of the clan luncheon, which is at the river center.

And there we will introduce our, scholarship winner.

This year, we're able to, award two scholarships.

It's excellent.

It has, but it hasn't been that way for a while.

It's usually one.

Right.

We have had two, but it's been several years.

But we've had, several anonymous donations that helped push us towards two scholarship.

Awards this year.

But, we also introduce our Irish Mother of the year and the grand marshal that's at our luncheon on Friday the 14th.

And then, of course, Saturday with the parade.

Yeah.

And then the post parade party, which is relatively new.

I know it's been around a while, but relatively well.

The bash has been, every parade we were down at the Cow Ballroom, oh.

From 80, 86 was the first parade.

And, we moved to the River center, I think it was 2013.

We've been there since.

So that's that's a tremendous party.

And, that is part of our fundraising effort because, you know, our membership, if you purchase a $20 annual membership, that's your admission to the bash, but we sell memberships at the door.

But that helps keep us going year to year or one year at a time with our fundraising.

So tell me about the Saint Patrick Society.

Because it is in existence all year round, it's not just that one week.

Yeah.

Right now, we're still only the events in March.

But in the past, you know, we used to have an Aaron Fish in August and September, and, there were times where we would do occasional things throughout the year, maybe bring in a band or something.

But March is our biggest, our biggest event.

And, but, yes, our board meets throughout the year, and, we have letters going out, newsletters going out to our members.

So we're active year round.

You know, but, basically building for the event.

March.

Yeah.

And that's an all year project.

It is, after the the parade, you know, we take a breather, but, you're always thinking, you know, and and how do we improve?

And what did we need to do?

What didn't work this time?

And then starting in the fall, you know, start gearing up again.

And by November, we're doing the paperwork with the cities and applications, and, you know, we have to work with Davenport, Rock Island, which they're great partners.

And, we have to work with the state of Illinois.

Rock Island handles that for us to get use of the bridge.

And, which, when we get to it, there is a slight change on the bridge traffic this year and on the parade route, but, what's the change?

Well, first of all, with the project going on in downtown Gaylord, our route will take straight down Fourth Avenue.

We used to jog at 20th Street, down third to 17th.

This year.

We're going straight down fourth Avenue to 17th and north to second.

Yeah, and then second to the bridge.

Now with the bridge traffic this year, there is a change.

In the past, we had always, the police departments had shuttled traffic back, back and forth between the two states on the Illinois bound lanes.

This year, it's strictly Illinois bound traffic.

If they get on the on ramp at Gaines and second in Davenport, it's strictly the Illinois.

Iowa bound traffic will have to be detoured to the Government Bridge or 280.

But, you know, we're only talking a couple hours, you know, and it's a tradition.

Yeah.

You know, you can't get mad at the Irish.

We can, but we won't let you.

Not on that day.

Not on that day.

There have been so many great people associated with the Saint Patrick's Society, and that have given their their blood and their soul to make sure that, the Irish heritage continues.

And I and I want to take time to talk about John Scali, who, we lost, I believe, in November, December, December.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

As, long committed to the Saint Patrick's Society in this parade.

Yes.

He was there at the beginning, working with the founders and John, was our third president.

Right.

He was on the board all these years from 86 to 24.

And he chaired 27 parades.

And that's a job, you know, just all the coordinating and, you know, just everything just making it work and tremendous job.

And he's the father of our Irish memorial at Second and Harrison.

That was an endeavor that it's just magnificent.

If you haven't been there, go down and see it.

It's it's a powerful statement.

Yes, yes.

With with with the father looking one way and the mother looking the other.

Yeah.

The father is looking forward to the future coming to America.

And the mother is looking behind at what she's leaving in Ireland.

And the child is just kind of bewildered.

But, Lou Quaintance, a native of, Silvis, I believe East Moline, he's a famous sculptor and, he put that statue together for us.

The two large stones behind the statue are mined or quarried, I should say, from Ireland.

And, are in place there.

So it's it's a nice tribute to the Irish Americans that came over.

And now to our American Irish.

Well, I mean, let's be honest, it's a great parade.

It's a great party.

Yeah.

And the fact that it is by state, Davenport as well as, Rock Island.

And if you've been in the parade when you're coming down the bridge into Davenport, it that swarm of kids just in that little area or the huge amount of people in Rock Island in the downtown area?

Yeah, it is a huge population that comes out for this parade.

It's kind of a unifying moment for the Quad Cities.

All the work, all the blood, sweat and tears, which I don't want to quote an Englishman on that, but, it's all worth it when you see the faces of the kids especially.

Yeah.

I mean, they're just out there and they're just grinning and smiling and having a great time.

And, and that goes for the adults who were probably acting a little bit like kids.

Yeah, it's a great time.

But the other thing that's fantastic is when you do have the families with their floats.

Yeah.

And are you finding still enough families doing that?

Oh, that really seems to be the heart of it.

Yes.

That's what the parade's all about.

One Irish themed entries, whether they be, family walking groups or they build a float.

And some of the creativity that goes into some of these, it's just amazing.

I mean, they've got to spend maybe thousands of dollars and who knows how many hours involved in these projects.

And we've seen replicas of the Centennial Bridge and Notre Dame campus and railroads and very clever.

Very.

Yes, yes it is.

What do you want people to take away from from this?

Because it's more than just the parade.

I mean, the importance of the Irish heritage here.

Well, that's just it.

I mean, in every group that's come to America has contributed and helped build the country and the Quad Cities.

And this is just our way of saying, okay, here's the Irish contribution.

A lot of people don't realize, in this area in Iowa and Illinois, the demographic, I mean, it's tight German and Irish and the English are third.

So the Irish are a big part of this community.

What amazed me once I went down to, the Lincoln site in Springfield.

And they have a signage there, an old, Springfield, I guess you call it the Lincoln site.

And they gave a breakdown of of all the nationalities that occupied Springfield at the time.

And they were young.

But you look at the graph and the Irish are like this, and then everybody else just trails off.

I mean, it was tremendous Irish population in Springfield, and that was throughout the two state area in the Midwest.

So, I think overall, the Irish, people, about a sixth of the nation can say they have Irish heritage in them.

So, you're talking tens of millions of people.

Is it okay that we're all Irish for it?

Yes, yes, we we everyone can be Irish on the day.

You'll see all groups.

And, we love it.

We love when everybody comes in and celebrates.

It's like Cinco de Mayo, like the 4th of July, you know, the Native American observations, Columbus Day, which I don't want to get in trouble, but, you know, it's everybody, everybody contributed.

And March 15th is our day to show that.

Our thanks to the president of the Saint Patrick's Society of the Quad Cities, Joseph Patrick Dooley.

On the air, on the radio, on the web, on your mobile device and streaming on your computer.

Thanks for taking some time to join us.

As we talk about the issues on the city's At VCU, we've always been here for you.

You are and always will be our top priority.

We care about your financial health and we are here.

I am VCU is a proud supporter of Wqpt.

Public affairs programing on Wqpt is brought to you by the Singh Group at Merrill, serving the wealth management needs of clients in the region for over 35 years.

This program was made possible by viewers like you.

Thank you.