<
https://truthout.org/articles/mcdonalds-kfc-burger-king-and-wendys-rely-on-alabama-prison-slavery/>
"Incarcerated Alabamans and labor organizations have filed a federal class
action lawsuit to dismantle the forced prison labor system in the state, which
rakes in $450 million annually from leasing incarcerated people to companies
like McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King and Wendy’s.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of
Alabama, seeks compensation for incarcerated people who have been exploited by
the state’s forced prison labor system, which the lawsuit says is
discriminatory. Despite a 2015 state law requiring that the Alabama Bureau of
Pardons and Paroles make evidence-based parole decisions, the lawsuit alleges
that the state denies Black Alabamians parole at a 2 to 1 rate compared to
white candidates in order to maintain its pool of workers.
“[Incarcerated people] are trapped in this labor trafficking scheme,” says the
lawsuit, which was obtained by
The New York Times. “Although they are trusted
to perform work for the state, local governments, and a vast array of private
employers, some of the same people who profit from their coerced labor have
systematically shut down grants of parole.”
One of the 10 plaintiffs, Alimireo English, was denied parole last month. He
told
The New York Times that he is on call 24-7 and that his labor is unpaid.
“They deny us parole to keep us doing the jobs,” English said. “The mentality
is: ‘Why would the slave master let the slave go when he can continue working
him for free?’”"
Via Diane A.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
