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In a First, California Moves Toward Paying Incarcerated Firefighters Minimum Wage
(brokeassstuart.com)
Best I can do is minimum wage for grueling, dangerous work.
this post was submitted on 02 Jul 2025
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United States | News & Politics
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I knew the US had prison labor but holy hell, I had no idea they had them in dangerous jobs. That's crazy.
This is worse than you think. These firefighters are locked up, but if they "volunteer" for high risk duties that pay them jack shit, they can get out a little earlier.
Do we have to explain the perverse incentives this system encourages? It's so dirty.
I just had a convo with someone about how the most dangerous job at their factory, which involves repeatedly getting near a 1700 degree furnace, was always mandated to be the highest hourly rate, even if other jobs were skilled labor, and no one thought this was unfair in the slightest due to the dangers involved.