CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Ruling should favor our work force Our view: Ruling should favor our work force

Winston-Salem Journal - 6/15/2017

Our view

In a case currently before a federal judge, the local IFB Solutions optical lab stands to lose 52 jobs, 42 of which are held by blind employees and several by veterans, and a lot of money. We hope it doesn't come to that.

On one side is the federal Veterans Administration, joined by IFB, formerly known as Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind Inc., which has a contract to provide visual prod-ucts including eyeglasses to the VA. On the other is PDS Consultants Inc., a small New Jersey business owned by a disabled service veteran. PDS has sued to get IFB's contract, claiming it should have preference in government contracts for the visual products.

"At its essence," the Journal's Richard Craver reported, "the legal case is about PDS' motion to require the federal government to enforce PDS' interpretation of the federal Veterans Benefits Act of 2006. The act is considered one of the ways Congress recognizes and repays disabled veterans for their military service."

The VA would like to continue its contract with IFB, but that's up to Judge Nancy Firestone, whose final judgment is expected before the end of the month.

IFB estimated that the proposed ruling could cost the agency more than $15.4 million, or about 54 percent of its annual revenue, if the VA is not allowed to extend IFB contracts through an annual option.

"This would cause the immediate loss of jobs for at least 20 individuals who are blind or seriously visually impaired, and 10 veterans, some of whom have service-connected disabilities," IFB told the Journal. "There is no currently available replacement jobs for these individuals."

Danny Kelly, IFB's chief operating officer, says that IFB is prepared to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

It's a complicated case. We hope the judge rules in favor of IFB. But whichever way it goes, we appreciate the good work done by IFB and the opportunities it supplies for local blind people to support themselves. If this contract is lost, we hope IFB and its supporters will be able to find other opportunities for its good workers.