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On March 1, 2014, UNI Global Union formally endorsed the Geneva Interns Association (GIA), the largest non-profit organization representing interns from all over the world who come to work at one of approximately 200 international organizations, businesses, and enterprises based in Geneva, Switzerland.  At UNI Global’s head office, Philip Jennings, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, addressed interns, journalists, social activists and business representatives on the new world of work facing young people. 

Mr. Jennings’ keynote speech addressed the many issues facing young workers, and emphasized UNI Global’s commitment to its own young workers.  Working as an intern in Geneva means being off the labor market full-time, often working long hours, and often doing the same work or else the work that is less prestigious as employees with standard contracts - yet, interns work for less than standard minimum wages, if they are lucky enough to receive a stipend at all, and without the same recognition for the contributions they make except when problems or mistakes arise. Interns in Geneva often have travelled from far away for the opportunity, not only to learn the necessary skills for international human rights work and policy making, but also to network with the big players and to get their foot in the door at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. As young aspiring professionals, interns expect that the reputation of the organization they work at is all it will take to launch their career in international work, but often it is only enough to land their next internship, one that hopefully pays enough to live on.  Mr. Jennings’ speech reached out to the young interns in attendance, and emphasized the need for them to continue to “think big,” and act bigger in order to achieve social and economic justice.   

UNI Global defends all young people’s right to decent jobs with work-place representation and collective bargaining agreements; however, Mr. Jennings acknowledged that the union movement must recognize the that world of work is constantly changing and that there must be support for associations of young workers, like the GIA,  trying to break through the new barriers and challenges that abound. As of yet, the majority of interns do not have workplace representation; they are excluded from staff councils, syndicates, and collective bargaining agreements; many of them are not even presented with a formal contract at the commencement of their work-training program, and when they are the contracts often fail to provide them with benefits or even official training that is often alluded to.  Although interns make positive contributions to their respective employers, at the end of the day the work that they do is not recognized as “real” work, and their time does not have the same value as an employee; and yet interns are held to the same standards of professionalism, expertise, and confidentiality; and with the additional pressure to make a big impression on their supervisors in order to gain an employment contract.  

Following Mr. Jennings’, members of the International Coalition for Fair Internships (ICFI) from Washington D.C., Canada and Brussels, joined the conference on Skype to show support for the GIA and its mission. Also included in the conference agenda was a co-creation workshop for the European Quality Internship Label, designed by InternsGoPro, a social enterprise that has already gained support from multiple international organizations and companies. One of the most prominent of those supporters, Microsoft, sent a representative to speak on how the Quality Label is good both for business’ and employers generally, as well as young interns.

UNI Global Union recognizes that the GIA represents, not only an opportunity for young workers to make a difference in their own lives but simultaneously make a difference in the lives of others; a positive difference that has the potential to have far reaching consequences.  On the micro-level, the GIA is interns helping interns; and on the macro-level, the GIA represents young workers defending young workers, and youth on the whole.  

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Formed just two years ago by a handful of interns from a variety of agencies of the United Nations, the GIA now has nearly 7,000 members on Facebook. At least 2,000 interns are estimated come through Geneva on average per year, and that number is quickly rising. To learn more about the Geneva Interns Association, its mission and organization, please check out their website at www.internsassociation.org or contact Kali Martin, intern at UNI Global Union and the GIA’s UNI coordinator, kali.martin@uniglobalunion.org or professional.welfare@internsasssociation.org.

For more photos of the event, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/uniglobalunion/sets/72157642583584345/show