The Prisoners Union identifies its origins in a 1970 work strike at Folsom Prison, where the idea to form a union emerged among persons who had recently been released from Folsom, and other ex-prisoners and supporters of prisoners’ causes. The Prisoners Union has worked since its founding toward three major goals:

1. The achievement of uniform and equitable sentencing laws
2. The restoration of civil and human rights to prisoners
3. The payment of fair wages for work done, safe working conditions, and compensation for injuries that are work-related.

For more information about the Prisoners Union, see the Prisoners Union newspaper, The Outlaw.

The Prisoners Union was affiliated with San Francisco Local 9 of the United Prisoners Union (formerly known as the California Prisoners Union). For More Information, see the United Prisoners Union collection.