Before I get started on the industries, products and corporations involved I find it necessary to address a concern voiced by some of those dedicated readers involved on Prison related issues, regarding my use of the term "slave labor." I have used this term as it is defined in: "How China Hides Its Slave Labor From the Free World" and "Americans Fund Slave Labor". I could have used the term "Penal labor" or "Forced labor" but neither accurately describes the use of prisoners as slaves for corporate gains and profits. This term is meant to identify the labor of prisoners on behalf of corporate interests - regardless of the individual worker's race, caste or ethnicity.
Here is a continuation of where I left off in the last segment.
Before we begin today's segment on the prison industries involved in competing for your jobs, I want to allow all of you to actually see for yourselves what prison industry operations are actually doing in the United States. At the same time you'll get a sense of just how many and what types of jobs have gone behind the fences. You can actually see some of the huge industrial complexes dedicated to product manufacturing by prisoners.
All of this is amply shown in the video linked to below. This video is from 2004 and was produced by the NCIA in cooperation with the Bureau of Justice Assistance the two main sources for your job losses. Here is the video link. Keep in mind as you watch this short video that it represents the joint efforts of both the federal government and the National Correctional Industries Association to move more and more manufacturing and services away from the private sector - and give them to the prison industries who participate in PIECP and all belong to the NCIA.
Now that you're all back...did anyone see their "former" jobs being done by inmates in the video? Are you left with any doubts as to the desire by the NCIA to Insource your jobs to prison labor? I hope many are as frustrated and angry about this program that has been hidden from all of us for so long. Hidden behind the term outsourcing to explain where our jobs have gone. If you're as angered as I, take a moment and visit hereto sign the ongoing petition I've set up to request that the DOJ enforce fully the PIECP laws and protect our jobs.
Many of the industries mentioned in this series appear in the video as well. I recognized two or three FDOC/PRIDE factory operations in the first minute or two. Without doubt if your prison industry is involved in PIECP, then one or more of their factories are also represented.
Here is a continuation of where I left off in the last segment.
IOWA:
Sales Eligibility:
The following groups and individuals located in Iowa are eligible to purchase from Iowa Prison Industries:
Tax-supported institutions and government subdivisions, including state, county and city agencies, and school districts.
Non-profit groups, including churches, fraternal organizations and parochial schools.
Employees of eligible institutions, agencies and organizations.
The same eligibility guidelines apply to groups and individuals located outside of Iowa, with the following additional requirements:
Out-of-state customers will be expected to prepay for orders plus all shipping charges before the order is put in production or pulled from stock and finally shipped. Customer may also opt to make their own shipping arrangements from our plants.
Out-of-state customers will be required to contact the Correctional Industries program in their home state to see if they can fulfill the order before placing an order with IPI. A list of Industries programs and web sites can be found on NCIA's web site.
Industry Name: Iowa Prison Industries
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Board member (name{s}): YES
Corp's partnered with: Brand FX Body Company, Burgin Drapery, JetCo, Majestic Truck Services, Midland Manufacturing, Misty Harbor, NuAge Marketing Solutions, Rock Communications (CGB Printing), Royal Cargo Trailers, Sully Truck Wash, The Graphic Edge.
Products –
PIECP:
• Vehicle Service Bodies,, Mfg’ing of trailers, steel trailers (commercial)
• Mfg’ing window treatments (commercial)
• Wreck rebuilding, Truck and trailer painting, frame and front end work (commercial vehicles)
• Blow molded plastic products (commercial)
• Boat mfg’ing (commercial)
• Newspaper inserts (commercial)
• Trailer washing (commercial)
• Custom screen printingand embroidery (commercial)
Other:
• Air filters
• Clothing and testiles
• Church Furnishings
• Office systems and desks
• Engraving
• Plastic bags
• Tables, seating components
• Janitorial and cleaning supplies
• Bedroom groups, lounge and residence furnishings
• Benches, grills, park equipment
• Filing and storage
_____________________
Kansas:
Sales Eligibility:
"Kansas statutes limit those authorized to purchase products manufactured and services provided by State operated correctional industries to State agencies; counties; cities; other units of local government; the Federal government; schools; churches; and eligible not-for-profit organizations. Similar agencies in other states are also eligible to purchase from KCI if their state laws do not prohibit it.
"Current State of Kansas employees, Kansas' residents and Kansas' businesses are now eligible to purchase KCI products and services."
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA member (name{s}): YES
Industry Name: Kansas Correctional Industries
Corp’s partnered with: BAC Company, Century Manufacturing, Inc., Electrex, Inc., Great Plains, Hubco, Impact Embroidery, Koch and Company, Impact Screen Print, Pioneer, Pioneer South, Primewood, Seat King.
Products -
PIECP:
• Leather goods, Lucite and specialty wood products
• Wire Harnesses, agricultural equipment
• Cloth bags
• Embroidered and screen printed garments
• Wood doors, cabinetry, paper goods, balloons
• Transportation seating
Other:
• Clothing, textiles
• Chemicals, cleaners, janitorial
• Tables, chairs, desks, office furniture, office systems, lounge seating
• Custom signs, graphic designs
• Services: agri-business, data entry, digital imaging, micro film, refinishing
• Specialty items
______________________________________
Louisiana:
Sales Eligibility:
“Prison Enterprise's goods and services are available for sale and delivery within Louisiana to any institution or agency supported in whole or in part by funds derived from public taxation and operated under the supervision of the State of Louisiana or some political subdivision, including parish and local governments. Also eligible are bona fide non-profit organizations who are registered as such with the Louisiana Secretary of State's Office and who can demonstrate that they have attained 501(c)3 status with the Internal Revenue Service.”
Industry Name: Louisiana Prison Enterprises
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA member: Yes
Corp’s partnered with: Company Apparel Safety Items (CASI)
Products –
PIECP:
• Disposable coveralls/safety items (commercial)
Other: Website under construction, none provided.
______________________________________
MAINE:
Sales Eligibility:
“Please take note that we are currently unable to sell any items over the internet, but are pleased to be able to provide this site as an informational picture archive of some of our unique handcrafted product lines. We must also let you know that the Maine State Prison Showroom is not able to provide any hands-on shipping, but can direct you to other local shipping service options to help meet your needs. Unfortunately, we are prohibited by State law from shipping prison made products across State lines and it is a violation of Federal Law (18 U.S.C. Section 1761) to purchase products sold at the Maine State Prison Showroom for the purpose of resale in another state. This website is designed as an informational resource for our customers. We are open 9AM - 5PM every day.”
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Member: YES
Industry Name: Maine State Prison Industries
Corp’s partnered with: None listed
Products –
PIECP:
• Furniture refinishing
Other:
• Furniture: desks, bureaus, credenza’s
• Coffee tables, end tables, cupboards
• Clocks, winged desks, lap desks
• Deck chairs, Adirondack chairs, settees, outdoor furniture
• Paintings, painted paddles, maps, etc.
• Handbags, wedding gifts, tote bags
• Wood carvings, decoy ducks, anchor and chain, etc.
• Jewelry boxes
• Custom carved and painted wooden ships (sm., med. And large)
______________________________________
Maryland:
Sales Eligibility:
“Who Can Buy
• State Government
• Local Municipalities
• Federal Government
• Political Subdivisions
• Non-Profit Organizations
• State Contractors
The sale of products and services produced by Maryland Correctional Enterprises (MCE) is limited to state and local government, state contractors, political subdivisions and non-profit organizations, and as permitted under the Private Sector/Prison Industry Enhancement (PIE) Certification Program of the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance.”
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Member (name{s}): YES - Joe Sommerville, Chief Operations Officer
Industry Name: Maryland Correctional Enterprises
Products –
PIECP:
• Gluing and fastening of ribbons and ornaments
• Mfg’ing of soft handcrafted International dolls
• Fabrication, painting and assembly of switch gear components
• Component parts mfg for chairs
• Office chairs, clothing, covers
Other:
• Furniture
• Signs, banners, accessories, printing
• Apparel and accessories
• Bed and bath products
• Office Supplies and accessories
• Facility products
• Food products
______________________________________
Hennepin County Adult Correctional Facility: (County Jail operation)
Sales Eligibility:
“PIECP certified program participant manufacturing and providing services for private sector businesses.”
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Member: YES
Industry Name: Hennepin Adult Corrections Facility Industry Program
Products (all PIECP):
• Outsourcing, packaging, assembly
• Shrink wrapping
• Kitting, fulfillment
• Heat sealing, re-work
• Collating, testing
• Bulk Mail preparation
______________________________________
In the next segment we'll continue with Mississippi and a few others.