Imagine you were hired for a job. Human Resources told you that you would make $50/hr (about $100,000 annually). You even signed an employee contract with your boss that stated that you would make $50/hr. Then when you submitted your timecard accounting only paid you $33.33/hr (about $66,000 annually) stating, "that's all that policy allows at our company." How would you feel? Cheated? Betrayed? Lied to?
A similar situation happened recently at Stillwater Correctional Facility. Stephen Allwine, inmate #256147 at Stillwater prison, left a job at the kitchen paying $1.25/hr and received a job in the Transitions Department, where he assists people preparing to rejoin society. His employment contract stated that he would start at $.25/hr and receive a wage increase of 25¢/hr each quarter until he topped out at $1.50/hr. Imagine his surprise when on January 20, 2023 he submitted his timecard for his first paycheck at $1.25/hr and accounting paid him only $1/hr. When he questioned it accounting said they can't pay the promised $1.50/hr because policy says the job tops out at $1/hr.
50¢/hr may not seem like much outside prison walls, but let's put it in perspective. Outside the walls emails and phone calls are free, but inside the walls an email to or from a loved one costs 40¢ each, sending a photo to a loved one is over $1.50, and a single 15-minute phone call costs 75 cents. At the base pay of 25¢/hr, a 3oz bag of coffee could cost almost a week's wages, a single health services copay would cost more than a week's wages, and a small 15-inch TV with no speaker could cost over 6 months pay. 50 cents in that economy become invaluable to maintain healthy relationships with your family and loved ones, and it costs the Department of Corrections (D.O.C.) only about $150 annually.
As of April 2, 2023, Allwine should be topped out at $1.50/hour and yet is still being paid only $1/hour. Allwine escalated the discrepancy through the grievance process and received one answer, "It's policy", despite the fact that employee contracts are bound by Minnesota State Law.
They say, "Actions speak louder than words". The D.O.C. just requested millions in the latest omnibus bill for positive programming and rehabilitative services, so they can preach how inmates should be positive members of society and follow the law. However, their actions show inmates that they can violate the law as law as they have a good excuse.
That will cost society far more than $150 annually.
