The constitution of California states in Section 6, Article 1 that involuntary servitude is prohibited unless it is used as a punishment for crime. While there are parties who believe that forced labor can be an effective way to serve justice, there’s no denying the questionable morality of forcing another person to work for a cause they don’t believe in, and in jobs that they might not be suited for.
Legislators in California are reviving their efforts to amend the section of the constitution that pertains to involuntary servitude as a punishment for crimes, that it should be abolished altogether, and in its place should be the clear words, “Slavery in any form is prohibited.”
This is known as the Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 8, or ACA 8. This amendment seeks to abolish involuntary labor in California prisons.
State legislators had fought for the same principle before, but the efforts stopped short on the Senate’s floor, as there had been issues with clarity surrounding the amendment. That failed effort was the ACA 3.
However, today California legislators are at the spearhead once again, with renewed effort, to fight against involuntary servitude in California prisons. With ACA 8, incarcerated people, especially minorities, can rest assured that their rights are protected even behind bars.
As a worker in California, you have access to all the rights, benefits, and protections provided by the state’s labor laws. If you feel that your rights as an employee are being infringed upon, or you know someone who is facing unfair treatment on the job, contact Labor Law Advocates today. We will work closely with you to create a fair and just workplace, and help you protect your rights as an employee.
