David,

As many of us look forward to celebrating Labor Day, we must confront a painful truth. On this day created to honor the dignity and rights of workers, hundreds of thousands of people behind bars are doing often dangerous jobs for little or no pay.

How is this possible? 

The 13th Amendment outlawed slavery, except for people convicted of a crime. That loophole has allowed prisons across the country to exploit incarcerated people. Remember Lester Holt picking carrots?

Nearly 800,000 people work inside United States prisons. Many incarcerated workers are forced to work in unsafe conditions, from fighting fires to clearing asbestos, without adequate training, workplace protections, or fair wages.

This exploitation must stop. Vera supports state and federal legislation to improve conditions and opportunities for incarcerated workers. In fact, this summer our team in California has been supporting legislation to increase pay for incarcerated firefighters.

 

David, will you join us in calling for an end to forced labor and help to expand real protections for incarcerated workers?

 

Let’s make this Labor Day a day for everyone. Your activism right now will help move us closer to a future without prison slavery.

 

In solidarity,

Vera Institute of Justice