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LAS Slams Corcraft for Paying Incarcerated New Yorkers Pennies on the Dollar

Criminal justice and workers’ rights advocates released data obtained via a Freedom of Information Law request from the New York State Department of Correction and Community Supervision (DOCCS) concerning Corcraft, the state-owned corporation that manufactures a myriad of products, including furniture, personal care products, license plates, janitorial supplies, and other items. Corcraft also offers mold and asbestos removal, among other services, reports THE CITY.

Despite generating $30-$40 million in revenues annually in sales from other state agencies, Corcraft pays incarcerated New Yorkers as little as $.26 cents per hour – a far cry from New York City’s current minimum wage of $15 per hour. Over a span of nine fiscal years from 2009-2010 to 2017-2018, Corcraft earned over $340 million in revenue. This figure only includes sales made to New York State government agencies and does not account for complete revenues.

Just this week, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that incarcerated New Yorkers had begun to mass produce hand sanitizer – known as NYS Clean – for Corcraft as part of the state’s response to the Coronavirus crisis. As of August 2019, Corcraft employed 1,820  incarcerated New Yorkers throughout the state, but with Governor Cuomo’s announcement this week, the corporation may be gearing up to employ hundreds more.

“Year after year, Corcraft continues to pay incarcerated workers pennies on the dollar for manufacturing products and performing services,” reads a statement from The Legal Aid Society.