Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO

The living wage campaign at Washington University-St. Louis began with the sudden deportation of a group of Nicaraguan janitors. Concerned students created the Student Worker Alliance, and began a broad campaign for labor rights.

In the Spring of 2005, the campaign gained national attention when it organized a sit-in and hunger strike to pressure the university to change its employment practices. The campaign worked closely with the Jobs with Justice in St. Louis, and unlike many campaigns, was lead mainly by minority students.

Interview:
Danielle Christmas -- student activist

Campaign links:
Student Worker Alliance -- the coordinating student group of the living wage campaign at Washington University.
Jobs with Justice-St. Louis -- an important supporting organization in the campus campaign.