Every year, international college students spend thousands of dollars to work at globally recognized institutions and experience America, only to find themselves with abysmal treatment and poverty wages.
Against all odds, students working for the famous chocolate factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania have gone on strike to fight back against the company's predatory practices and to win fair wages.
Their story has inspired national attention and a State Department investigation, but since many of them make $8 an hour (with "program fees" and rent automatically dedicated) they're running out of time and on the verge of being unable to afford basic necessities: food and rent.
The students need to raise $15,000 to keep up the fight, and the SEIU family can help them.
Please consider contributing $5, $10, $25 or more to to the students' strike fund using this secure Paypal link:
http://action.seiu.org/hershey-students
Once upon a time, unionized workers packing chocolate at the Hershey company in Pennsylvania made $18 to $30 an hour.
Today, the company relies on a "cultural exchange" program that asks foreign students to pay up to $6,000 to come to America to work for $8 an hour to work at a companies like Hershey and experience what its like to live in America.
Then, when they arrive, "program fees" and rent are deducted from their salaries to the point many are unable to recoup what it costs to obtain their visa.
So the students walked out.
They will win a fair wage and strike a major blow against predatory corporate practices ... if they are able to keep up the fight. But these brave students are running out of money and need to raise $15,000 to keep up their fight.
We can get them there.
Please consider contributing $5, $10, $25 or more via this secure Paypal link to the students fighting for fair treatment at Hershey.
http://action.seiu.org/hershey-students
I can think of no better "cultural exchange" program for these students than sending a message that working families in this country stand with them in their fight against corporate greed and exploitation.
I am making my contribution right now, and hope you'll join me.
In solidarity,
Mary Kay Henry
President, SEIU
P.S. Contributions to the students go through the Justice at Hershey's Solidarity Fund administered by the New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice. You'll receive an email receipt for your contribution and the students will get every dime of your donation.