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In a First, California Moves Toward Paying Incarcerated Firefighters Minimum Wage (brokeassstuart.com)

submitted 1 day ago by davel@lemmy.ml to c/usa@lemmy.ml

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Best I can do is minimum wage for grueling, dangerous work.

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[–] HiddenLayer555@lemmy.ml 3 points 12 hours ago (2 children)

Using prison slave labour for firefighting is literally the dumbest shit I've ever heard even ignoring all the ethical issues. You know who I don't want in charge of saving my life from a fire? Someone who's being forced to do it. Because that person probably won't try very hard.

[–] Sarmyth@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Uh... they're still people. They like doing good rewarding things and they like learning real skills.

In this case they aren't ever in neighborhoods spraying down homes. These are the guys in hills cutting fire breaks to stop the fires from ever reaching homes.

None of these fire fighters are forced. Its a job that they earn privileges for doing. They're probably not as gung-ho about it as someone who's made a career of it but they aren't slaves like you're imagining.

[–] brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 10 hours ago

The prison firefighters all volunteer for that detail. From what I understand, it's one of the harder details to get on.

But don't dehumanize prisoners with such a broad brush. They are all people too, and when they see someone in dire need, they are still people and will more than likely help.

But woodland firefighting is very much clearing brush and creating fire lines with literal hand tools. Hoes, chainsaws, and shovels and their primary tools. This isn't a position where firefighters are going into burning buildings looking for injured or trapped people.

[–] FriendlyN3rd@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

still crazy how after they get out, they cant even work as firefighters bc they dont hire ex convicts

[–] Pieisawesome@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 12 hours ago

They changed that like 1-2 years ago

[–] foggenbooty@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I knew the US had prison labor but holy hell, I had no idea they had them in dangerous jobs. That's crazy.

[–] fodor@lemmy.zip 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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.

[–] dessalines@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 day ago

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.

[–] IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago (1 children)

inmates being paid less than minimum wage will depress everyone's wages.

minimum wage isn't enough.

minimum wage should also be a liveable wage.

imagine how much easier would it be for inmates when released, when they have a few years of hard work savings. which they earned.

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 11 hours ago

Huge increase from like the $2/hr or something they were getting