In Los Angeles and Sacramento, dozens of people are coming together to support “Yes on Proposition 6,” billed as a ballot initiative to improve security and “end slavery and involuntary servitude in California prisons.”
Inmate advocates, union leaders and people who were once incarcerated spoke about their experiences of being forced to work and often deprived of rehabilitation programs that would have better prepared them to succeed after their imprisonment. release.
“We have to eliminate all vestiges of slavery everywhere and this November we have the opportunity to do it here in California,” said Stanley Thermidor, policy and advocacy strategist for A New Way of Life.
Thermidor argued that with Proposition 6, instead of inmates being forced to work “and slave” in prisons, incarcerated people would have access to rehabilitation and education programs to effectively reintegrate into society.
I work involuntarily
The Proposition 6 campaign refocuses attention on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), and, if approved by voters, would amend the California Constitution to prohibit the state from punishing incarcerated people with involuntary work assignments and discipline those who refuse to work.
“From the plantation [en los tiempos de la esclavitud en Estados Unidos] to mass incarceration, the pattern is exploitation,” said Paul Briley, executive director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC).
Briley noted that the evolution of slavery goes by many names: human trafficking, involuntary servitude and forced labor.
“The guiding principles remain the same: bondage and profiting from forced labor,” Briley added. “California is one of the 16 states left [y sacan provecho de dicha servidumbre] and we will lead the fight to ultimately end prison slavery at the federal level.”
Official CDCR figures show that, as of May 29, 2024, there were 91,556 people in custody in California’s 32 prisons and fire camps, even though institutional capacity was 75,526 people.
Additionally, of the more than 90,000 people incarcerated, the state’s prison system employs nearly 40,000 of them to perform a variety of tasks such as construction, gardening, cooking, cleaning and firefighting.
Under the Proposition, sponsored by Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (Contra Costa District 11, Sacramento and Solano), state prisons could establish a voluntary work assignment program, to take time off from sentences, in the form of credits.
‘It’s a labor issue’
If the bill passes, it would allow county or city ordinances to establish a pay scale for people incarcerated in local jails.
“California Federation unions support Proposition 6,” said Alameda Labor Council representative Keith Brown. “This is a labor issue because slavery is the ultimate wage theft.”
Keith Brown indicated that “slavery undermines the dignity of rights and workers; By ending involuntary servitude and slavery in our correctional facilities, we affirm that every person and worker deserves respect and humane treatment.”
“Prison slave labor forces imprisoned people to work dead-end jobs when they could be learning skills and accessing rehabilitation programs that help ensure they have the skills necessary to succeed on the outside,” said Chasety Reynolds, formerly incarcerated and All of Us or None (AOUON) intern.
During the press conference a few days ago, in front of the Los Angeles County Women’s Detention Center building in the city of Lynwood, Pastor Adrian Zachary, of the Crossroad United Methodist Church in Compton, said that not only is an advocate for Proposition 6, but also the mother of an incarcerated son.
“I recognize and understand the importance of the inequality in which incarcerated men and women provide slave labor, and that is why we are willing to abolish that by passing Proposition 6 and reallocating resources in our communities for reentry and programs that will provide a second chance,” he indicated.
He added that: “When we recognize the importance of opportunity and the ways in which the community can provide for those who have been impacted by incarceration, their lives will change, their families will heal, and they will be part of a system that will move us forward.” .
Proponents of the legislative measure said that many of the incarcerated people suffer from mental health, substance abuse and anger management problems, but instead of receiving the treatment they need, they are forced to work.
They felt that, beyond treatment, many inmates could have access to higher education while in prison, better preparing them to succeed upon release, but instead of allowing them to earn a degree and break the cycle of incarceration, “the system It forces them to do slave labor in menial jobs that offer them no future.”
‘End prison slavery’
After advocating for citizens to vote on the Proposition, on November 5, Susan Burton, founder of the New Way of Life Reentry Project, stated that the exploitation of prisoner labor is when they are paid wages as low as eight cents an hour.
“We want to end slavery in California prisons,” said Susan Burton. “Proposition 6 will be on the ballot across California and we want to end the exploitation of our workforce; “We are working in prisons and they don’t give us unemployment benefits… They are exploiting our labor for eight, 10 or 12 cents an hour and we return to our communities with nothing.”
Those gathered that day announced that the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) generates $180 million “exploiting incarcerated people” in the production of clothing, clothing accessories, footwear and socks, overalls, pants, shorts and underwear , shirts, vests, metal signs, traffic signs, cleaning products and office supplies and furniture.
At press time, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association (CCPOA) did not respond to its position on the alleged elimination of all vestiges of slavery in all California jails and prisons in November.
For his part, Terry Hardy, spokesperson for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, responded that CDCR officials do not comment on the proposed constitutional amendments.
However, an external statement says that beginning in 2016 of this year, CDCR increased salaries for incarcerated workers as part of its commitment to preparing people for successful reintegration into their communities.
“This change aligns with the California model, which emphasizes public safety, employee well-being and rehabilitation opportunities,” the statement said.
“The decision, based on contributions from employees, incarcerated people and community organizations, aims to allow incarcerated people to work fewer hours, while participating in rehabilitation programs,” the text adds, and indicates that “the salary increase encourages conservation employment, supports restitution payments and helps people save for their release.”
In addition, all unpaid work assignments have been eliminated and up to 75 percent of full-time jobs will move to part-time positions. Nearly 60,000 incarcerated people have work assignments in California prisons.
How much do inmates earn?
Inmates in California prisons earn between 16 and 74 cents per hour, depending on their skill level. The salary scale is as follows:
Level 1: leader person: Earn between $0.32 and $0.37 per hour, or between $48 and $56 per month.
Level 2: person with special ability. Earn between $0.19 and $0.32 per hour, or between $29 and $48 per month
Level 3: Technical: Earn between $0.15 and $0.24 per hour, or between $23 and $36 per month
Level 4: Semi-skilled: Ganto between $0.11 and $0.18 per hour, or between $17 and $27 per month
Level 5: Worker: Win between $0.08 and $0.13 per hour, or between $12 and $20 per month