A Couple of weeks ago I began posting a listing of all the state prison industries operating under the federal PIE program. Tonight I'll continue with the listings. For first time readers I've linked to the NCIAand the PIECP Guideline that allows this competition between private sector and prison industry operations. Knowing that the NCIA is the compliance enforcement arm of the Department of Justice's PIE program, I wanted to first provide you a link to one of the many documents I came across at the NCIA's website. Keep in mind the program requires prison industries to pay inmate wages prevailing wages.
The NCIA is the private Association chosen by the BJA to enforce the PIECP laws and guideline. One of those requirements is the payment of prevailing wages to level the playing field between prison and private sector industrial operations that are in competition. The actual document is found here and is provided below:
"National Correctional Industries Association
Resolution on the Fair Labor Standards Act
WHEREAS, correctional industries and institutional work represent critical activities yielding social, economic and management benefits for the corrections agency, the inmate and the public at large;
WHEREAS, correctional industries and institutional work programs reduce idleness in institutions that are, on average, more than 130 percent of capacity;
WHEREAS, correctional industries are programs designed to train and employ as many inmates as possible, and, as such, they carry additional financial burden not found in the private sector; yet, at the same time, they must be financially self-supporting;
WHEREAS, inmates are not employees who should enjoy full benefits offered by an employer to an employee;
WHEREAS, correctional industries and institutional work programs cannot absorb the financial burden of paying minimum wage and continue to operate as they exist;
WHEREAS, the consequences of designating inmates as employees will result in the imposition of an unnecessary tax burden;
WHEREAS, it is important that it be made clear that Congress did not intend inmates to be considered employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act; and
WHEREAS, it is essential to terminate the numerous and costly lawsuits filed by inmates in courts around the nation;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the National Correctional Industries Association hereby expresses its support for federal legislation which seeks to clarify that inmates are not employees and are not entitled to minimum wage by specifically excluding prison and jail inmates."
I find this instrument and their position indicative of why inmates are continuously paid minimum wages (if they have to receive wages at all) instead of the prevailing wage required. Obviously this position held by the NCIA is in direct conflict with the legal provisions of 18 USC 1761(c) and possibly explains their reasoning for finding all industries paying less than prevailing wages...in full compliance with the federal law. The lessening of wages paid to inmates benefits the corporations involved in using that labor and serves as a driving force behind depressing those wages. It also explains why so many corporations are willing to jump on the slave labor band wagon and move their operations and our jobs into prison facilities...Maybe the Department of Justice's "recruiting" videoto attract more businesses to move their manufacturing into prison explains it better than I?
I am still pissed at the way our DOJ works behind the scene to remove more and more jobs from us while the President and his Administration are actively trying to create more jobs and keep the ones we now have. It's almost like there is a disconnect between the DOJ and the Administration, or the DOJ has it's own agenda regarding the taking of our jobs and giving them to inmates to keep the corporations fat and happy.
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State: Minnesota:
Sales Eligibility:
See MINNCOR partnership video made by the NCIA and DOJ above or here.
Who can buy from MINNCOR industries?
Minnesota State Agencies
Any state agency may purchase products directly from MINNCOR without going through a bidding process. Use the State of Minnesota contract for MINNCOR. The State of Minnesota contract number for MINNCOR is 424930. The MAPS vendor number for MINNCOR is 200006496-00
Counties, Cities and Townships, Public Schools
Any government agency in Minnesota or any other state may purchase from MINNCOR in two ways: Buy directly from MINNCOR, using your agency purchase order.
Or through the Cooperative Purchasing Venture, a members-only program that enables participating governmental units to purchase goods and services under contract terms established by the state of Minnesota. Visit Minnesota Department of Administration site to find out how your governmental unit can save time and money.
Other States, Federal Agencies or Other Counties
MINNCOR may sell to any governmental entity.
Private Companies and Non-Profit Organizations
Private companies and non-profit organizations may purchase from MINNCOR.
As a PIECP participant they sell upon open markets in Minnesota and other state customers.
Industry Name: MINNCOR Industries
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Board member (name{s}): YES - Brenda Chandler Admin Director.
Corp's partnered with: Fairbault Air Filter, Fairbault Wood, KGP Telecom, Moose Lake Assembly and Manufacturing,Moose Lake Sewn Products, Plastech, Rush City Assembly and Manufacturing, Shakopee Assembly and Manufacturing, Shakopee Sewn Products, Stillwater Assembly and Manufacturing,
Stillwater Metals, Stillwater Tractors, Stillwater Wood, NWN Incorporated, .
Products: –
• Cabinetry and casework, (commercial)
• Custodial Products
• Library and School furniture(commercial & custodial)
• Laundry Service (commercial)
• Office Furniture(commercial)
• Outdoor Recreational Products (commercial)
• Graphic Design (commercial)
• Printing Services (commercial)
Other:
• Subcontract Manufacturing (commercial)
• Transportation Products (commercial
• Reupholstery and Seating (commercial)
• Office systems and desks (commercial)
• Warehousing
• Tables, seating components
• Janitorial and cleaning supplies
MINNCOR has an "Employ" program for reentry assistance. See the Employ video here.
MINNCOR was audited in 2009 and the audit determined that all the funds taken from inmate wages under PIECP for room and board are diverted back to them by MDOC. The total of this money - annually - is $1.2 million. These funds are supposed to be to offset incarceration costs but when returned to the industry, it is reported simply as "other income". This is the same way Florida's PRIDE is diverting those deductions back to their company as profits.
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Mississippi
Sales Eligibility: Not provided
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Board: NO
Industry Name: Mississippi Prison Industry Corporation (Pvt. non-profit)
Industries Partnered with: None listed
Products:
• Bedding and Linen
• Furniture, Wood and Metal (commercial and custodial)
• Garments and Clothing
• Horse Stalls and Accessories (commercial and rental)
• Janitorial Products (Inst. and commercial)
• Outdoor Products (commercial)
• Printing Services and Custom Design (Institutional &commercial)
• Wood signs (Institutional and Commercial)
PIECP Products:
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State: Montana
Sales Eligibility:
Who is eligible to purchase from MCE:
"MCE is a prison industries program that can sell to state agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofits. We can sell to your service groups, schools and booster clubs, as well as athletic teams, churches and any other type of nonprofit organizations.
"Private corporations and individuals are welcome to place orders with local DEALERSHIPS throughout the state. It is through your support that we are able to continue the benefits of this program"
Name of Industry: Montana Correctional Enterprises
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Board member? YES Gayle Lambert, Administrator
Corporations partnered with: MBG, Inc., Phillips Environmental, Quake Industries.
Products:
• Metal and Wood Furniture (Inst. and Commercial)
• Seating(Inst. and Commercial)
• Printing and Custom Printing (Inst. & Commercial)
• Signs(Institutional)
• Apparel(Institutional & Commercial?)
• Gift Products (Institutional & Commercial)
• Ergonomics
PIECP Program :
Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Programs (PIECP Products)
"MCE Industries offers work and training opportunities to prisoners, in a variety of manufacturing programs. The program offered at MSP is the Environmental Services Program. Workers produce106 bags/hour and 6 boxes/worker/day.
"MCE is certified with the Bureau of Justice under the Prison Industry Enhancement Program (PIECP). The programs that are currently operating under PIECP are custom bow sites and rifle slings. We are looking at including several new ventures in this area that will provide even more real world work place experiences for our incarcerated workforce."
PIECP Products:
• Archery Sights (commercial
• Archery Sights (commercial)
• Aluminum Archery Products (commercial)
• Biodegradeable waste bags (commercial)
• Rifle Sling assembly and packaging (commercial)
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State Nebraska
Sales Eligibility:
By state statute, eligible customers for CSI’s products and services are limited to Nebraska State Agencies; county and local governments including sheriff and police departments; political subdivisions; public schools and colleges; non-profit organizations; and Private Venture Associates. Braille products however, can be sold nationwide.
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Member: YES
Industry Name: Cornhusker State Industries
Corporations Partnered with: Dangle Doodle Company, Garner Industries, Inc., OTC OCC, Sillosocks, Inc., TEK II - NSP, Tek Industries, TEK, Inc., Yik Yak Designs.
PIECP Statement:
"CALLING ALL ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS!
Do you want a piece of the P.I.E.?
Is your company looking for ways to:
• Improve your competitive advantage in today's economy?
• Reduce operating costs?
• Increase your manufacturing space at very competitive costs?
• Reduce your employee benefit costs?
Then Cornhusker State Industries is the "partner" you need to call!
Through our Prison Industries Enhancement Certification Program (PIECP), Cornhusker State Industries offers:
• Productive and dependable labor source
• Industrial space at very competitive rates
• Opportunities to reduce operating expenses and employee benefit costs
• Increased profitability
• Wood Fabrication
Cornhusker State Industries (CSI) is ready to assist you in meeting your company's need for continued growth, competitiveness and profitability.
For more information please call:
CORNHUSKER STATE INDUSTRIES
1-402-471-1694 or 1-800-348-7537
E-mail: melissa.slade@nebraska.gov"
Products:
• Seating(inst and Commercial)
• File Cabinets/Systems (Institutional and Commercial).
• Picnic Tables and Grills (Institutional and Commercial).
• Clothing(Institutional and commercial).
• Janitorial and Cleaning Supplies (Institutional & Commercial?)
• Floor mats
• Custom office furniture (Institutional and commercial).
• Library Fixtures (Institutional)
• Laundry Services (Institutional and commercial).
• Furniture reconditioning (Institutional and commercial).
• Other products (Institutional and commercial).
• Modular Homes (Commercial)
PIECP Products:
• Wood Products
• Polished aluminum motorcycle parts
• Reground extruded plastic
• Windsock Goose Decoys
• Deburring of Small Engine Cam Covers
• Communication Component Parts Assembly
• Wood Storage Cases
• Paper Cutting Dyes
• Metal Assembly
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State: Nevada
(PERSONAL NOTE: This one sits right under PRIDE for impact upon civilian jobs and products. Run by the President Elect of the NCIA, Brian Connett. In 2007 he obstructed justice in an official FDOC Investigation by the IG's office. He was the PIE Coordinator at PRIDE who denied a PRIDE industry was a PIE operation while the factory was processing and shipping millions of dollars of food products nationwide - and paying inmate workers between $.20 and $.50 an hour. As soon as the investigator contacted him and he lied, Connett left PRIDE and relocated in Nevada. PRIDE immediately notified the BJA that their food industry was a PIECP operation. They were able to avoid paying even minimum wages from 2002-2007 because of Connett. I'm not done with Connett or PRIDE as yet...)
Sales Eligibility: Any-damn-body who wants to buy anything prison made in Nevada.
PIECP Participant: YES
NCIA Member (Board): YES Brian Connett, Deputy Director (NCIA Pres. Elect)
Industry Name: Silver State Industries
Corporations partnered with: Book Bindery, Contract Mattress, Drapery Factory, Jacobs Trading Company, Shelby American Management Co., Vinyl Products, Inc., Thomson Equipment Company.
Products:
• Clothing(institutional and commercial)
• Furniture(commercial)
• Metal Fabrication (Institutional and commercial)
• Printing and Graphic design (commercial)
• Horse Program (commercial)
• Automotive restoration and reupholstery (commercial)
• Custom built motorcycles (Choppers) (Commercial)
• Draperies(commercial and institutional)
PIECP Products:
• Book Rebinding
• Hybrid Mattresses
• Draperies, clothing
• Furniture
• Repackaging
• Limousine Parts
• Miscellaneous products
• Shelby Cobra Automobiles
• Custom Motor Bikes
• Remanufacturing Semi Tractor Trailers & Manufacturing Trailers
• Vinyl Waterbeds
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I'll take up where I've left off here in an upcoming diary. If I appear to be posting less I am. I have a book project that has come up on Prison Labor issues I write about here, and I'm having to put a lot of time and effort into that project right now. I'll get back to two or three posts a week once I get the rough draft off to the publisher. Thanks to all of you who have brought the issues to the attention of those who can help me get the word and facts before the public!