Prison Labor Law
August 27, 2008 · Updated 8:00 PM
On our ballots Nov. 6 will be the Senate Joint Resolution 8212. Please vote no.
Unless you wish to subsidize the profits for large corporations that would use our prisons for their operations and the incarcerated as their cheap labor, you will vote no on SJR 8212. Unless you wish to give the free industrial space, the vocational training, the program coordination to large corporations provided by taxpayer dollars, you will vote no on SJR 8212. Unless you wish to allow the use of our incarcerated at low wages, no benefits, no unemployment taxes, no health benefits, no anything, you will vote no on SJR 8212.
Microjet was a company that used prison labor at the Washington State Reformatory in Monroe. They get more than 11,000-square-feet of industrial space rent-free. Many utilities are provided to them free of charge or at discounted rates. Security and security orientation is also provided.
The Department of Corrections entices employers with the promise of low overhead costs and a motivated and readily available work force. Such a deal, for the private for-profit corporations but certainly not for the taxpayers. Just say No.
Lea Zengage
Lake Stevens
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