I'm all for helping prisoners, but part of this strike is against the concept of prisons as economic engines. Imho prisons should not engage in profitable business. It creates too much incentive to keep productive people behind bars. And it turns those productive workers into a commodity.
That said, I have absolutely no issue with prisoners working, long as they are paid an appropriate wage and the activity doesn't turn a profit for the prison. Either give all the profits to the prisoners in pay, or run the operation as a rehabilitation program at a net loss.
I don't believe there is a fair wage for someone who is compelled to work not of their own choosing.
As to the idea of prison labor, there can be no revenue (not simply profit) from the prison system that is just. Society should pay a burden to separate those within itself from the rest. Any attempts to recoup costs (let alone profit) fall prey to a perverse incentive to keep prisoners longer than is absolutely necessary for the well-being of the Society.
I don't think we currently care about the well-being of Society, at least judged by how we treat prisoners. Our system of justice, at least in the United States, seeks punishment instead of rehabilitation.
That said, I have absolutely no issue with prisoners working, long as they are paid an appropriate wage and the activity doesn't turn a profit for the prison. Either give all the profits to the prisoners in pay, or run the operation as a rehabilitation program at a net loss.