In a groundbreaking move, California is set to pay incarcerated firefighters the federal minimum wage during active fires. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new state budget allocating $10 million to fund this wage increase, which will take effect on January 1, provided the Legislature passes the necessary bill. Currently, incarcerated firefighters earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day, with an additional $1 per hour during emergencies, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The decision follows years of advocacy for better pay and working conditions for incarcerated labor, gaining momentum after hundreds of incarcerated firefighters were deployed to battle wildfires in Los Angeles in January. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, who authored the bill, initially aimed for a $19 per hour wage but settled on the federal minimum wage after budget negotiations. Bryan emphasized the significance of this change, stating, “It’s the right thing to do and it’s long overdue” according to CalMatters.
The bill has bipartisan support but faces opposition from the California State Sheriffs’ Association due to concerns about its fiscal impact on counties. Despite this, Bryan highlighted the importance of recognizing the value of incarcerated firefighters’ contributions. Katie Dixon, a policy coordinator for the California Coalition for Women Prisoners, expressed that the wage increase is a statement of value, saying, “We value you, we honor you, we see you.”
In addition to state efforts, federal legislation aims to improve conditions for incarcerated firefighters. Representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Judy Chu introduced the Fairness, Inclusion, Rehabilitation, and Expungement for Incarcerated Firefighters (FIRE) Act, which seeks to increase pay, provide workplace protections, and create job opportunities post-incarceration. The bill also proposes a pathway for record expungement, recognizing incarcerated firefighters as employees entitled to wage protections.
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