This is an archive of the former website of the Maoist Internationalist Movement, which was run by the now defunct Maoist Internationalist Party - Amerika. The MIM now consists of many independent cells, many of which have their own indendendent organs both online and off. MIM(Prisons) serves these documents as a service to and reference for the anti-imperialist movement worldwide.

MassCor peddles slave labor across Amerika

While Clinton criticizes other countries for the use of prisoners as slave labor, it goes on in this country too. Some states have industries designed for export, such as Oregon which planned to export $1.2 million worth of the ÒPrison BluesÓ line of clothes.(1) When the 13th Amendment outlawed slavery, the congresspigs made an exception for prisoners.

ItÕs no different in Massachusetts, where prisoners do much of the work of running their prisons, and the products of the slave factories are aggressively promoted by the bureaucrats in charge. Massachusetts prisoners make office and cleaning suPlies, furniture, mattresses, signs (including license plates), textiles, printing, an eyeglass lens lab and, of course, U.$ flags in a variety of sizes.

The MassCor web page boasts several things worthy of note: 1. The labor is ÒskilledÓ and the prisoners are paid. We encourage Mass prisoners to write and tell us about their jobs, whether they are in fact learning Òmarketable skillsÓ and their wages. We expect that prisoners will report their wages are far under minimum wage.

2. State Law allows government agencies to by-pass usual bidding procedures and the resulting red tape if they buy from MassSlaveCor. Uh, isnÕt that some sort of illegal monopoly arrangement? They justify this by the (unsaid) fact that since the prisoners arenÕt being paid properly, products are bound to be cheaper than outside competitors.

3. MassSlaveCor boasts that it Òtakes enormous pride in instilling a positive work ethicÓ in their ÒworkersÓ. All products come with a ÒLOCKDOWNÓ guarantee. WeÕre not laughing. Nothing positive can come out of being on the receiving end of the slavemasterÕs whip.

Return to Mass Prison Facts
Note: 1. Prison Legal News May 1994.

2. MassCor web page.