That
is the question still being debated today. Over the last few years the debate
about paying interns has increasingly heated up, with the first story breaking
in 2010 when two interns won the lawsuit they filed against 20th
Century Fox for not being paid a proper salary while working on the Black Swan
film set. Since then, more and more interns have begun coming forward,
demanding compensation for the long hours they have tirelessly put in.
Several
weeks after a judge ruled in favor of the Black Swan interns, two other interns
filed a lawsuit against their previous employer, publisher Conde Nast in the
same court for violations of labor law. This lawsuit alleges that W magazine
and the New Yorker violated New York
and federal labor laws by forming unpaid internships like an actual job, rather
than a learning opportunity, and seeks to recover wages for the two interns
named in the lawsuit. Conde Nast “failed to pay members of the Intern Class
minimum wages for all hours worked to which they are entitled under [New York
labor law],” the lawsuit says. Over time the internship system has been truly
challenged, spurring a movement that has caused more than 15 other lawsuits to
be brought to court.
In
addition to lawsuits, the Fair Pay campaign is the newest campaign to come from
this movement. Its goal is to hire professional organizers to motivate interns
in major cities like New York and Los Angeles and bring them together to fight
for fairer treatment. The Intern Labor Rights, a group that stemmed from the
Occupy Movement, is also joining forces with other like-minded coalitions
abroad to form fairer internships.
As
a college student, and soon to be starting my second internship this fall, I
have to agree with this movement. Interns are an integral part of the operation
of all different types of businesses, organizations, and companies, and we
should be treated as such. We don’t need to be paid like a top executive, but a
little more appreciation would go a long way, especially in our current
economy.
Is
this a legitimate debate? Or do you think that interns should be happy with the
work and experience they are receiving? Let PRowl know!
This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Jenna Stern.
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