Unpaid Unfair Illegal. Unpaid internships are illegal and we are calling for them to end. We believe unpaid internships perpetuate inequality excluding those who do not have the means to work for free. Unpaid internships are not only benefitting the privileged they are unlawful too as the majority do not comply with minimum wage regulations. Many students and graduates work for weeks or even months without a wage in roles which have all the formal qualities of paid employment.
We have joined with the TUC to launch 12 months of campaigning activity. The campaign will commence on 13th February and will see the dual launch of the TUC’s Rights for Interns Iphone app and our campaign Unfair Unpaid Illegal. The Iphone app will allow interns to work out how much they're owed from internships which have failed to pay the national minimum wage. The launch will be a chance to engage with key policymakers, hear from interns about their experiences and consider what we can do to ensure fair internships in the future. Furthermore we are encouraging all university careers services to stop advertising exploitative unpaid internships and we will be providing students' unions with resources to take local action. Speaking at the launch will be Frances O’ Grady, TUC Deputy General Secretary, Hazel Blears MP, Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ General Secretary and Dannie Grufferty NUS Vice President Society and Citizenship. Hazel Blears will be speaking about the NUS supported parliamentary internship scheme and the use of interns by MPs. The other delegates will lead a panel discussion on unpaid internships with contributions from interns themselves.
Details of the launch are as follows:
Date: Monday 13th February 2012
From: 11:00 To: 13:30
Venue: Congress House , 23-28 Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS
The launch is free to attend but you will have to pre-register. To register for the event and for more information email Lewis Cooper at lewis.cooper@nus.org.uk.
If you have any stories about interns or want more information email Liz Rawlings at liz.rawlings@nus.org.uk or Sean Turnbull at sean.turnbull@nus.org.uk.