California is moving to pay incarcerated firefighters the federal minimum wage of $7.25 during active fires, a policy change that follows years of advocacy to improve pay and working conditions for incarcerated labor.
Best I can do is minimum wage for grueling, dangerous work.
I’m not sure how to feel about this - there will always be dangerous jobs in any worksite and it’s better that the danger is more highly compensated than the alternative - that the job is forced upon those with the least alternatives and paid the same or less than safer work (like the situation in the OP with incarcerated firefighters).
I work in a grocery store meat department and was a meat cutter for 2 years at a previous job. It pays well at least partially because you’re working with your hands next to a spinning blade for hours a day and it’s pretty normal to see old timers missing a finger or two.
I’m not sure how to feel about this - there will always be dangerous jobs in any worksite and it’s better that the danger is more highly compensated than the alternative - that the job is forced upon those with the least alternatives and paid the same or less than safer work (like the situation in the OP with incarcerated firefighters).
I work in a grocery store meat department and was a meat cutter for 2 years at a previous job. It pays well at least partially because you’re working with your hands next to a spinning blade for hours a day and it’s pretty normal to see old timers missing a finger or two.