End Slavery in Minnesota Bill Advocates for Fair Wages in Prisons
Minneapolis, MN — On February 25, 2025, the Minnesota Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee hosted a panel discussion on Ending Slavery in Minnesota led by Marcia Howard, President of the Federation of Teachers Local 59 and ex-prison labor workers.
According to panelists, an incarcerated worker makes $0.25-$0.50 an hour, which is split in half to pay for essential needs for the worker. They say that this is an equivalent to “damn near free labor” and needs to change.
According to the End Slavery in Minnesota campaign, which is endorsed by Sen. Clare Oumou Verbeten (DFL-66) and Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-43A), “Slavery is legal.” The campaign cites Minnesota’s Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, which says: “There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the state otherwise than as a punishment for a crime.” Howard says this reminds her of “pre-emancipation; it brings back antebellum times.” She also said, “Eight states have removed this language from their constitutions, but Minnesota has not.”
Currently, the No Slavery in Minnesota Act demands are:
- Minimum wage
- Self-representation
- Health, safety, and workers comp
- Not have wages stolen
- Work, and to choose to work
- College under North Star Promise
- Earn remote employment or to start nonprofits, businesses, cooperatives
- Learn essential technology
An audience member and ex-incarcerated individual were among the panel discussion participants. They said, “These brothers and sisters are going to get out. What are they going to look forward to?… What does a 50-cent-an-hour job offer me?” He also stated that as a person in prison, he’s often thought about that.
The panelists also describe their experience from being inside the prison system as a “big racketeer circle” that deliberately underpays its prisoners so that they will come back to prison without a way to survive. They also point out how this treatment could trickle down into a generational problem where it affects incarcerated individuals’ offspring, where the cycle continues.
The End Slavery in Minnesota campaign plans to have a “Day on the hill” on May 1, 2025, to talk to lawmakers from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Minnesota State Capitol.
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