Oct 16, 2008 10:55 pm US/Eastern
Blind Workers Fall Victim To Patrick's Budget Axe
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Jim Agostinelli was devastated by the news of losing his job. At 10 a.m. Thursday, the head of the State Commission for the Blind, told 37 workers at
Ferguson Industries for the Blind in Malden the program was being eliminated.
The 102-year-old state workshop has become a victim of
Gov. Deval Patrick's budget axe. The Industries has been making such products as mops and brooms for state and local governments, pillowcases and linens that have been shipped overseas for the military.
"What's a 58-year-old legally blind person supposed to do?" said Agostinelli.
It's a line item that saved the state $867,000. Since many of the workers make no more than minimum wage, Ann Marie Hannon told WBZ-TV she thought they'd "pick on someone a lot bigger."
They've become the muscle the Governor said he'd have to cut.
"It's a part of history being lost," said Hannon, who assembled pens used by many cities and towns. "Getting up and going to work in the morning, you look forward to it. It's bread and butter on the table."
The workers have until mid-November when Ferguson Industries will officially shutdown.
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