Day 20 for Hunger Striker Protesting Employer Abuse

In 2006, some 500 Indian welders and pipe fitters were lured to the United States with promises of good jobs and pay in Gulf Coast shipyards and told they could achieve permanent resident status. Instead, they became victims of a human trafficking scheme under the guise of the H-2B guest worker program. They were held in modern-day forced labor at Signal International’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

When they tried to organize for decent working conditions, the company sent armed guards to detain some of the organizers, then fired them without cause. After traveling to Washington, D.C., in their fight for justice, several of the strikers have been engaged in a hunger strike that began May 14. (Click here, here and here for previous stories.)

Yesterday, Scott Reynolds, AFL-CIO State and Local Labor Council coordinator, visited the strikers and sent us these thoughts.

I visited the Indian hunger strikers over at the Indian Embassy today. Of the original group, only one—Paul Konar, the oldest, who just had his 54th birthday this past week—has lasted the entire time.

I had been feeling a bit guilty that I hadn’t gone over in a while and I’m so glad I did. The site coordinator now is one of the students who fasted at Georgetown University a couple of years back. I think they are in capable hands.

Paul is, of course, much thinner than when I saw him last and his voice is weak. He slept most of the time I was there. When we talked, he spoke with an almost spiritual sense of conviction about doing this so others wouldn’t have to endure the same exploitation he and his fellow workers had suffered. He said “prayer is my food.” There wasn’t a trace of bitterness or anger. He seemed almost serene.

I forget sometimes that struggle isn’t just about tactics and strategy (though those things are undeniably important). It’s also about sacrifice and courage. Paul may not know that his campaign is an uphill battle that still may not have found much of a spotlight or a patron. If he does know, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care much. The successful hunger strike at Georgetown lasted nine days. Gandhi fasted for 21 days. Tomorrow will be day 20 for Paul. Amazing.

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