Have you ever competed against prison labor wages on your own job? I have

[NBachers]

44. I did a fair stretch in Federal prison in the late '80's and early '90's

I worked in the Unicor Federal Prison Industries when I could. It was factory, industrial, and quality control work.

I also did farm work, janitorial, and construction. We actually built our own prison; I got to over-build features into the room my mates and I ended up in.

The Prison Industries job paid enough money that I could cover my own commissary, send money out to my wife, 'till she split, and have a little nest-egg built up when I left.

The other jobs were pretty much free labor.

The people who didn't want to work, who were more interested in playing convict games or fucking off, could get a little shit job and get by with the minimal.

I figured I wanted to remain in work mode so I'd be able to hit the ground running when I got out.

I have friends who campaign against prison labor, both from inside and outside. I support them.

But if I ever went back, I'd go right back to the Prison Industries jobs and try to make whatever I could of my life and time in the joint.

And, so far, I've been out since '91 and off paper since '94. I don't see myself going back in.