Spartanburg Inmates File Lawsuit Against SCDC Over Wage Violations

Spartanburg Inmates Sue Over Wage Violations

SPARTANBURG — In a surprising twist of events, four inmates from the Tyger River Correctional Facility have taken legal action against the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) over wage disputes related to their prison work. This could potentially affect many others holding similar positions across the state.

In September, Damon Jones, Jason Turmon, Ronnie McCoy, and Kevin Casey filed a lawsuit claiming they were not only paid below the minimum wage but that substantial deductions were made from their paychecks for necessities like room and board. The complaints stem from their time working at Shaw Industries where they performed woodworking jobs, often clocking in 50 hours a week.

Minimum Wage or Prevailing Wage?

According to the inmates, their pay was a mere $7.25 an hour, the minimum wage, rather than the federally mandated prevailing wage that they argue should be applicable for their work. The prevailing wage is designed to reflect the average salary for similar positions in the private sector, and in their particular case, that wage can be significantly higher—from $16.36 for a woodworker to $20.53 for an inspector.

Lawyer Tom Winslow, representing the inmates, explains, “These guys are working hard, and through various deductions like room and board, they might end up with only $1.25 an hour after everything is taken out.” This situation sheds light on the financial struggles that inmates face while working long hours in the facilities.

Legal Back-and-Forth

Though the inmates argue they should be compensated fairly under the Prison Industry Enhancement Certification Program, which allows inmates to work for private companies, the SCDC claims that their payments are compliant with state law, which only requires minimum wage or higher.

SCDC spokeswoman, Chrysti Shain, stated that in some instances, inmates earn more than the federal minimum wage. However, the current lawsuit calls into question the fairness of the deductions made from their paychecks. The state law allows for certain deductions for things like child support and victim restitution, but the inmates argue that these deductions have left them with very little for their hard-earned labor.

The lawsuit specifically mentions Jones, who worked from August 2021 to September 2023, and Casey, who continues to work at the facility. Jones claims he received the minimum wage during his tenure, while Casey was initially compensated with approximately $15,500 for the wages he lost over several years. Yet, disturbingly, when Casey returned to work, he was also offered only the minimum wage.

Next Steps

The story doesn’t end here. Both sides have filed motions regarding the future of this case. The inmates are attempting to turn their lawsuit into a class action to benefit other inmates in similar circumstances, while SCDC has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit altogether. With hearings set for October 18, the outcome of this case could pave the way for changes in how inmate labor is compensated in South Carolina.

This lawsuit has opened a larger conversation about inmates’ rights to fair compensation while working under the Department of Corrections. As it stands now, many are eagerly awaiting the results of these motions, which could create a ripple effect in the prison system’s labor policies across the state.

So, with a mix of curiosity and hope, we watch how this case unfolds. After all, fair work deserves fair pay, no matter the circumstances.