$1.25/hr
The exploitation of Idaho’s prisoner firefighters.
Photo by Joanne Francis on Unsplash
Editor’s note: This post contains a link to a petition. You can take action by clicking the link at the end of the post.
All Idahoans are indebted to our courageous wild-land firefighters. We are surrounded by forests, many of which burn often. Firefighters are the heroes who keep Idaho residents safe from the consequences of these fires. Their importance to our society is even more pronounced in these times of global climate crisis. As more of our wild-land burns, firefighters are on the front-lines, fighting to keep us safe.
What many Idahoans don’t know is that some of these firefighters come from Idaho prisons. The forest service hires Idaho prisoners to work on conservation crews and as firefighters. At first glance, this program may seem beneficial to all parties. After all, it provides the prisoners with something to do, valuable work skills, and some money, right? But upon deeper research, it is clear that the government is exploiting these heroes into modern day slave labor.
Idaho prison labor firefighters are paid a starting wage of $1.25, and squad bosses are only paid an extra 25 cents, $1.50. That means that squad bosses are only paid $12 for an 8 hour day, or $336 per month. They are not considered employees of the forest service, and therefore receive none of the normal benefits. (Idaho Department of Corrections) This is the reward they can expect for tirelessly fighting for our safety, managing the climate emergency, and putting their lives on the line every day. Although these people are prisoners, above all, they are heroes. They have demonstrated their commitment to change by going into such an honorable profession. Their low pay is a disgrace to firefighters everywhere, and Idaho as a state.
Convict labor has a sinister history. The system was created immediately after the Civil War to re-enslave many who had just been released. In the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which allegedly “abolished slavery,” it states, “neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” Prison labor is, in effect, an extension of slavery. It is inherently immoral. Although our end goal should be to abolish prison labor completely, raising the pay of laborers like firefighters is an essential first step.
The issue is further complicated by the fact that BIPOC are overrepresented in the Idaho prison population, as is the case in many American states. Although Latinx people make up 11% of Idaho’s population, they compose 16% of prisoners in Idaho. Black people make up 1% of Idaho’s population, but 3% of Idaho’s prisoners. Likewise, Native Americans compose 3% of Idaho’s prison population, while only 1% of Idaho’s total population. Finally, we can see that Whites are underrepresented as prisoners in Idaho. Even though they make up 84% of Idaho’s population, they are only 77% of Idaho’s prison population. (Prison Policy Initiative) The racist structure and undertones of prison labor are impossible to ignore.
What can we, as Idahoans, do about this injustice to our wild-land firefighters? We can call on Governor Little, the Idaho legislature, and the Idaho Department of Corrections, to raise Idaho prison labor firefighters pay to minimum wage. This is the least we can do for these heroes working to save our families and our forests. New York Fire Commissioner Thomas Van Essen said that firefighters “go to work every day knowing that they are doing something so positive, that people really respect them and appreciate them.” Let’s prove him right and show our appreciation for ALL Idaho firefighters by paying them legal minimum wage.