Hello Comrades,

We’ve received the following info from our friends at http://actorsminimumwage.wordpress.com:

Oh what exciting times we live in! Lets rush to the barricades and die singing like French students in English musicals!

The organisers of ActorsminimumWage Blog (whom the Arts Group has been supporting with medical supplies and ammunition – and advice) are working with other actors and revolutionaries to bring the first act of organised resistance against the oppressor.

There is talk of a month long boycott of unpaid theatre to oppose the elitism and exploitation of emerging professionals in the acting profession.

It would be great for members to support this effort, and get you all joining in with the debate: vote and make comments on the Actors Minimum Wage website.

Take part in the poll and read more about la resistance: http://actorsminimumwage.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/the-boycott-question/

Viva la revolucion!

‘Of course students may be concerned, which is why we are working hard to show that real opportunities are available to them including work, further study, volunteering and Internships. Internships are great way for graduates to kick start their careers by gaining the valuable skills and work experience at a time when they face a more competitive job market.’

Yes David, ‘a great way’ for those who can afford to be exploited by organizations violating the National Minimum Wage. Thanks a bunch. Welcome to the only government who simultaneously claims to champion social mobility whilst also using unpaid work as a strategy for streaming graduates for recruitment.

The Arts Group is calling for legislation governing the practice of work experience, internships and placements. In its “Emerging Workers” document the Arts Group puts forward the case that Government action is needed in order to protect students and graduates in the arts and creative industries.

Many arts organisations and businesses are reliant upon unpaid workers, both on work experience and on longer term placements. Whilst the Arts Group recognises that some of these organisations are run on low budgets, it is not in the interest of diversity, equality or creativity for internships to remain as the preserve of the well off.

Kit Friend, Chair of the Arts Group commented “Access to the creative professions should be based on ability, not means. As the labour market is near saturated with those financially able to take up unpaid placements, equal access to the creative professions will not be realised unless internships are regulated by government.”

The Arts Group recognises that the creative sector is made up of a large number of small and medium enterprises, and calls for funding and bursaries to be made available to employers so that they are able to continue to offer internships that are genuine training and development opportunities.

>> A pdf of the report can be downloaded by clicking here

An unemployed graduate is writing about their struggles to get paid employment over at this blog. Sound familiar?

So this week has been an awfully busy week considering my severe lack of paid work. Having completed my time at the charity last week I was left with nothing to do. However, with the optimistic idea that ‘experience on the cv will lead to a job' in my mind I decided to hunt for something to do. I have recently decided that PR isn't fulfilling me enough…by this I mean it is not fully-filling my wallet…in fact traveling to my many unpaid work placements is actually emptying it.

I almost didn’t post this up. It’s just that dull. The trouble is the Guardian is not going to publish a desensitized account of a journalism internship. The fact that you have begged for months to get a place, only to realise it probably wont get you anywhere in the long run. Almost as soon as I graduated I got a month at a national– thinking this was my ticket to any number of entry-level jobs. What an idiot.

The most helpful hacks – rather than just rebuffing my eagerness – told me to do an expensive post-grad course and then concentrate on getting more unpaid work. Somehow I didn’t expect it to be that hard. Uni career services should really spend more time explaining how tough reality is. Anyway, rant over. Here is the Guardian's diary of an intern…

Monday  
A group of university students came round for a tour this afternoon. There seemed to be quite a few of them, which I'm a bit mystified at. With so few opportunities available in journalism I've no idea why so many people are choosing to study the subject. Still, I'm in the same boat, I suppose so perhaps someone could've warned me of the dangers of entering such an industry.

Enjoyed today very much though, I'm getting into a routine of mapping out my week to make sure that everything goes smoothly. I've learnt that being organised is a massive part of the job.

Tuesday 
Ricky's relayed a few tales to me about incidents which happened before I started at the paper. When I first arrived I maybe didn't understand why he was so unhappy with other members of staff and their embracing (or lack of) the digital side of things but I am beginning to see things differently.

He mentioned when he conducted an interview which went wrong not long after he joined the company, someone a bit more senior than him went straight to the editor to tell him, rather than having a quiet word about what happened, which doesn't seem very fair.

It's not as if everyone is constantly sniping or at each others' throats but there is a definite reticence from some people to get more involved. Certain departments just seem to 'stick to their own' as it were. How does this benefit the paper and website? It only keeps people divided and produces a poorer product.

Wednesday
 With those revelations coming out yesterday, I've definitely been a bit more wary about other people I'm in contact with in the office.

However, a couple of the sports guys have been over to discuss a few things and certainly made me feel a bit more comfortable when I work with them. Not sure at this stage if that's because I get on so well with the editor and he's persuading them to help more with the podcast and web side of things. I'll just run with it for now, I'm in no position to be suspicious of how this breakthrough has come my way.

Thursday  
Did the first round of videos for a local charity awards night which will be held next month. The paper is the principle sponsor so it's a fairly important job and something I need to get right. The first two nominees I met were fantastic and I think I'll enjoy doing this as long as I keep progressing with the technical side of things.

In trying to be helpful when a reporter was attempting to get into Ricky's computer (he's had the day off), he immediately turned away when I enquired if I could be of assistance. The guy didn't even look at me and just mumbled something. He's been a bit frosty during my whole internship, and that put the stamp on it when he couldn't even be civil to me.

As part of the Arts Group’s work on Emerging Workers, Arts Group’s Chair, Kit Friend, attended the consultation regarding Parliamentary Internships yesterday, and encouraged the initiative to consider the measures recommended as national legislation in the upcoming “Emerging Workers” report to be published soon. These include a 4 week/160 hour limit on unpaid work, and living wage for all interns up to 3 months, whereby they should move to being made regular employees and subject to the same rules and protection.

Phil Willis’ website with continued updates on the Parliamentary Internship enquiry is at www.philwillis.org.uk

More fantastic documentation on the generally shocking state of Internships in this country is at Interns Anonymous