Internet Helps Spark Solidarity For Purdue Hunger Strike

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/4766

Internet Helps Spark Solidarity For Purdue Hunger Strike - 11/30/06

A hunger strike at Purdue University has begun to expand to Universities around the country through the power of the internet. Jesse Russell has more:

By Jesse Russell

Fifteen students are now on strike at Purdue University with at least one striker on his thirteenth day without solid food. They are demanding that the University require better labor standards from Purdue apparel suppliers. Through the power of the internet and social networking websites such as Facebook, the strike is spread off of Purdue’s campus and across the country. The “Support the Purdue Hunger Strike” Facebook group had more than 600 members as of Wednesday afternoon. Those members come not only from Purdue, but from around the country and as result solidarity strikes are breaking out on other University campuses. Ten students are on strike at the University of Colorado-Boulder and seven students at Santa Clara University in California. Also joining in are a handful of students at the University of North Carolina, Michigan State, and the University of Southern Mississippi. They want workers in factories where Purdue apparel is made to have the right to form a union, workers be allowed to demand higher wages, and the Purdue’s code of conduct to be enforced.


Audio story here: http://www.laborradio.org/files/lo/winsheadlines.ram