Unpaid Intern Workplace Rights Could Get Labor Board Review

A case recently appealed to the federal labor board could give it an opportunity to decide whether unpaid interns can organize for pay and other changes to their working conditions, especially in workplaces that already have a union.

Amnesty International USA asked the National Labor Relations Board April 15 to overturn an agency judge’s ruling that its executive director made unlawful threats against employees in response to a petition by unpaid interns seeking to be paid. The human rights organization also appealed the judge’s finding that the interns should be considered “employees” under federal labor laws and therefore entitled to ...