Private firms losing work to inmates at U.S. prisons

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.toledoblade.com/business/2012/03/16/Lawmakers-scrutinize-federal-corporation.html

Published: 3/15/2012

Lawmakers scrutinize federal corporation

Private firms losing work to inmates at U.S. prisons

HUNTSVILLE, Tenn. -- As chief financial officer of a military clothing manufacturer, Steven Eisen was accustomed to winning contracts to make garments for the Defense Department.

But in December, Mr. Eisen was told his company, Tennier Industries, which is in a depressed corner of Tennessee, would not receive a new $45 million contract.

Tennier lost the deal not to a private competitor, but to a corporation owned by the federal government, Federal Prison Industries.

Federal Prison Industries does not worry about its overhead much. It uses prisoners for labor, paying them 23 cents to $1.15 an hour. Though the company is not allowed to sell to the private sector, the law generally requires federal agencies to buy its products, even if they are not the cheapest.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Inherent corruption. What's missing in the article:

Private prisons are also involved, not only the federal prison system that's run by the government.

Private prisons are the new Victorian Work House/American Debtors' Prisons. They can compete unfairly with "regular business" with salaries that the Chinese would be jealous of.

[duhneece]

2. Also missing: The War on Drugs

The majority of prisoners are non-violent drug offenders.

Our War on Drugs is a war on people, especially minorities.

[madrchsod]

3. i had a relative who made key brand coveralls in a prison work shop

i have another who is sewing leather belts in texas...about a dollar an hour

[bemildred]

4. They love that slave labor. nt