Alabama Inmates on Strike, Say They Will "No Longer Contribute to Our Own Oppression"

[WhiteTara]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/alabama-inmates-strike-no-longer-192600314.html?nhp=1

A coordinated prison labor strike in as many as five Alabama correctional facilities resulted in authorities putting two prisons on lockdown this week, ABC News reported, in an attempt to draw attention to inhumane conditions and systemic deprivation within the state's prisons.

According to Solitary Watch, three organizers who have been held in solitary confinement named Kinetik, Dhati and Brother M helped organize the effort, which began at "Alabama's Holman, Staton, and Elmore Correctional Facilities. St. Clair's stoppage will begin on May 9, with Donaldson and other correctional facilities to follow soon after."

Kinetik, Dhati and Brother M are members of the Free Alabama Movement, which hopes to carry on the strike for up to 30 days depending on the willingness of authorities to negotiate.

snip

"We will no longer contribute to our own oppression," Kinetik told Solitary Watch. "We will no longer continue to work for free and be treated like this."

People incarcerated at the prisons are paid $0.17 to $0.30 an hour to perform a variety of functions. While some assist correctional employees in the maintenance, upkeep and staffing of prison facilities, others are engaged in manufacturing or industrial jobs which generate revenue for the correctional system from for-profit companies which rely on cut-rate prison labor. Much of that money is then sucked right back from incarcerated people in the form of heavy fees and fines

[Rex]

1. It is prison, I am surprised they get paid at all.

I don't understand why they don't make at least $7.25 an hour? What special rule says that they get paid sweatshop rates?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. Exception to the 13th Amendment abolishing involuntary servitude (slavery).

Involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime after being duly convicted.

[Rex]

8. Okay thank you.

Didn't sound moral, but I guess it is legal.

[FarPoint]

2. I don't think it will last long...

A strike signals a lockdown... Meaning, no visitation. Plus, medium security level, long term sentence inmates want to be busy...need that commissary fund ..This won't last.

[pmorlan1]

3. Good For Them

Prisoners should be paid a decent wage and they should be able to keep their money.

[hfojvt]

4. they should take a lesson from Missouri

get the football team to join the strike. See how fast the warden gets fired and wages go up.

I think they should certainly get paid more. 30 cents an hour is ridiculous.

[WhiteTara]

5. What a great idea!

[Tsiyu]

7. Why is it illegal to import goods made with prison labor

but our own bloated corporations get to exploit prison labor and sell their products freely?

God, the whole thing is so fucking dystopian, and there remain those who say there "is no conspiracy to incarcerate large numbers of people for no just cause except profit."