SLAVES, ONCE AGAIN. . . 'WAR ON DRUGS' AND UNICOR
Mr. Thomas writes. "We have recently seen the CIA - Drugs - Iran Contra - Mena, Ark. story come back to life in mainstream
media. . . The 'War on Drugs' has been one of the main pluses for UNICOR and its stockholders. . . .The government
has been bringing in the drugs, selling them at a profit, then locking up the users, who are then used as slave labor in Federal
Prisons for UNICOR's private factories. And the taxpayer pays, and pays, and pays!
"Let's take a look at the labor force for UNICOR. . It is important to recognize that according to the Department
of Justice, 59.9% of the current Federal Prison population is made up of 'non-violent' drug offenders. Violent prisoners do
not make good factory employees." It is obvious why UNICOR would prefer a non violent worker who has been given a very long
sentence. "The U.S. prison population was relatively stable from about 1926, when figures were first compiled, through
1970. After this point, the effect of Nixon's war against drugs and later the Reagan and Bush war against drugs, produced
a DRAMATIC increase in the number of prisoners."
PRISONERS GALORE
"Hundreds of thousands of American prisoners now work in what is becoming a growth business: PRISON INDUSTRIES.
The term encompasses several distinct but related arrangements: Federal and state prisons employ inmates to produce goods
for sale to government and for the open market. Private companies as well contract with prisons to hire prisoners. And private
prisons similarly employ inmate labor for private profit, either for outside companies or for the prison operators themselves.
What all three arrangements share is the exploitation of a growing and literally captive labor pool. The U.S. rate is more
than four times Canada's, five times England's, and 14 times Japan's. "Because of recent initiatives such as 'truth in
sentencing,' 'three strikes and you're out' and limitations on parole, the growth in the prison population has been nothing
short of explosive. In 1987, state and federal prisons housed 551,328 inmates. . .by the year 2000, more than 1,700,000 inmates
have been housed in the nation's state and federal correctional institutions.
UNICOR WHAT IT IS AND WHO RUNS IT
WHO OWNS UNICOR? Mr. Thomas writes. "UNICOR is a privately held stock with a select list of customers who are the who's
who of government." He further alleges that stock holders are "the legislators who make the laws and determine the length
of sentence and Department of Justice officials from J. Reno on down who sit as Judges and prosecutors in the courtrooms."
Mr. Mahoney also listed as stockholders, "cabinet members, high ranking government officials from every department, from
both parties, from every imaginable political ideology. . . Stock is available by invitation only and is closely held
by those who dictate and enforce the law. Men convicted by UNICOR stock holders are then sentenced to work in the same factories
owned by the same stock holders. Products are produced which they profit from but your taxes go to the maintenance of
the work force. Now think about the private companies that formerly provided those goods and services and now can not compete
due to unfair labor practices and the Federal law mandating Federal agencies to buy from UNICOR."
Mr. Thomas writes. "Money is green, it's not Democrat, it's not Republican, it's not Independent - it's the most sought
after 'stock' in the country. . A regular tax-paying Joe can't get any. It's all tied up by the politicians and appointed
officials who now have a personal financial interest in MORE PRISONS, LONGER SENTENCES, and MORE PRISONERS! Ever wonder
why the prison population has exploded in the last 15 years? "Nice neat little scam that is making a lot of money for a
few well placed elected and appointed officials. Profits going to the 'big boys' who make and enforce the laws,"
creating with the prison industry system their own "little Third World country " right in the middle of good ole' U.S.
of A.
Can you say 'CONFLICT OF INTEREST?'
Mr. Thomas writes. "Tomorrow's UNICOR will be manned by patriots - Christians - Militia members and anyone who is deemed
politically incorrect and therefore a 'threat' to the country. UNICOR is already one of the largest corporate holdings
in the nation and it is growing at a time when other 'legislatively challenged' private businesses are downsizing and NAFTA
and GATT sent jobs South of the border for cheaper labor and less government intrusion. You've got plenty of that right here.
It is growing. It is your future - welcome to the New World Order. Welcome to our slave labor sight, the 'United Nations
Industrial Corp.' "
People drive by with blinders on, excising the sprawling prison and barbed wire out of the scenery. . . The Prison Industry
is the fastest growing industry in the U.S. Unbeknownst to many, the U.S. is turning into a nation of prisons where large
sectors of the population are employed directly or indirectly by prisons.
"BUREAU OF PRISONS REALITY RIDE"
Tom Thomas who is incarcerated at a federal prison in Atlanta, Georgia sent a letter to Kansas Environmentalists for Commerce
in Hemp concerning the Prison Industry system, or UNICOR. "Let this humble little slave take you on a little Bureau of Prisons
reality ride. These factories produce everything from communication cable for the military to office furniture for government
office buildings to sheets towels and pillow cases.
"PRISON LABOR IS A HOT TICKET FOR BUSINESSES SEEKING CHEAP HELP, BUT IS THE PAYOFF WORTH IT?
"The $1.3 billion of sales nationwide in 1993 is expected to increase to a whopping $8.9 billion by the year 2000,
according to the Prison Industries Reform Alliance--a group that represents industries such as furniture, textiles and electronics
that have suffered from prison competition.
"Inmates also book rooms for motel chains and take reservations for Trans World Airlines (yes, they do take credit
card numbers-and yes, there have been embarrassing incidents). In Kansas, they process Social Security numbers. In Iowa,
they work for the Department of Tourism's Information Bureau, boosting the same state that locked them away. A number
of states, among them Iowa and Nebraska, rent their inmates out as telemarketers.
PRISON INDUSTRIES ALSO BUILD MISSILE PARTS AND PROVIDE ELECTRONIC IMAGING SERVICES.
"UNICOR, Federal Prisons Industries, Phoenix, Arizona, is being awarded a $6,899,200 firm fixed price contract -- to provide
for 704 adapters applicable to the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile and the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile. The
adapter serves as the interface between the missile launcher and the aircraft pylon. Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, Robins
AFB, Georgia, is the contracting activity (F09603-96/F- 0042). Agency: AIR FORCE." (3)
"Some of UNICOR Data Services' satisfied customers include: United States Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency,
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, United States Navy, Department of Energy, Patent and Trademark Office, Defense Mapping Agency."
"Prison industries provide so many goods and services that most Americans have probably encountered them, whether they know
it or not."
"Now you might think this Prison Factory notion is a good idea. Put those convicts to work and save the taxpayer some hard
earned dollars by unitizing convict labor for the production of goods used by the government." However, before you arrive
at that conclusion you might consider the following information.
UNICOR,UNFAIR ADVANTAGE? GUARANTEED MARKET
All government agencies MUST purchase needed goods or services from UNICOR, if UNICOR provides them, regardless
of what anyone else bids.
LOWER BUSINESS EXPENSES
Because prisoners are paid "anywhere between 20 cents and $1.50 per hour," UNICOR has lower
labor costs. "The money is put toward release savings, victim restitution and court obligations such as child support. The
inmates can spend what's left." There are less expensive 'worker incentives'. "If prisoners refuse to work, they are moved
to disciplinary housing and lose canteen privileges. Most importantly, they lose "good time" credit that reduces their sentence."
According to Mr. Thomas, there are also no costly, time consuming intrusions of the various "agencies that make life miserable
for private business such as the IRS, EEOC, Dept. of Labor, OCEA," or the INS. For instance, "An illegal alien can work
for UNICOR. UNICOR wants illegals because according to UNICOR policy you must have a GED or high school diploma in order to
advance in pay from 23c an hour. . Since most illegals can not even speak English, they will never make more than 23c an hour.
They are good hard workers, who cause little trouble and like to work.
"You, the taxpayer, pay about $22,000 per year, per prisoner to house, feed, maintain, clothe and supply health care for
Federal prisoners who are then used as slave/cheap labor in UNICOR factories."
However,
UNICOR pays "no
Social Security taxes, no health insurance, no 401 K or retirement fund - no benefits, just an average wage of 69c per hour.
. No fuss, no muss - big profit! "
UNFAIR COMPETITION?
"The growth of prison industries has fueled opposition from labor and business groups across the country. The AFL-CIO has
been pushing for restrictions that would limit prison industries selling to the public sector in states like Ohio, Texas,
Nevada, and Florida, where state prison industries have made substantial headway into the commercial marketplace. When you
look at what's going on around the country, like some of the inmates that are being used to assemble PC boards for Lockhart
industries, that costs 150 workers their jobs down in Texas.'
OTHER EXAMPLES ABOUND.
"In Aurora, Ill., in a minimum-security arrangement, inmates have replaced an entire third shift at the local Toys R Us,
stocking shelves and sweeping up.
"In Utah, inmate labor has crippled the private-sector asbestos - removal industry. 'We find it ironic that they are putting
an industry out of business that they are purportedly training people to work in,' said Steven Crawley, an attorney for
the Utah Asbestos Abatement Contractors Association, which is suing Utah Correctional Industries on the claim it has illegally
taken over the industry."
