Warren, Biden Campaigns Appear to Find Loophole Around Paid Internships

[DonViejo]

The difference between a “fellowship” and an “internship” in the Warren and Biden campaigns appears to be pay.

Hanna Trudo
Updated 07.12.19 7:30AM ET Published 07.12.19 5:19AM ET

Unpaid interns are practically non-existent among Democratic presidential campaigns in 2019. But some top-tier candidates appear to be finding a creative way to tap unpaid talent: offering vague “fellowship” opportunities as volunteer positions.

There’s no singular definition for a “fellow” among 2020 candidates and most this cycle don’t offer the option. But two leading contenders, former Vice President Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), give applicants who are selected a chance to participate in the campaign as volunteer fellows, without requiring compensation or academic credit.

“Volunteers are asked to do something, workers are told,” Renée Hagerty, an executive council member for the Campaign Workers Guild, said. “Everyone who’s performing work on a campaign should be paid.”

For Biden’s campaign, the “Team Joe Organizing Fellowship” consists of an eight-week program that includes weekly online trainings in grassroots and digital organizing, according to the listing, which closed this week. Unlike the internship program, which is paid $15 per hour, the fellowship program makes no mention of wages, academic credit, or time commitments.

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https://www.thedailybeast.com/elizabeth-warrens-and-joe-bidens-presidential-campaigns-appear-to-find-loophole-around-paid-internships?ref=home

[qazplm135]

1. Eh as long as it's truly voluntary

Then I don't have a problem with it.

If it's simply an unpaid internship under another name that's something else.

[Princetonian]

2. Any doctor will tell you there is a big difference between an internship and a fellowship.

I would have taken a Biden Fellowship invitation had I not a child to raise. This reporter is trying to stir up trouble by misrepresenting something quite necessary when you are working on a campaign.

[George II]

3. It's not just them. Just about every campaign I've seen or worked with have done this.

[MineralMan]

4. I have worked on many political campaigns, but have never been paid.

That was my choice. It began when I was just 15 years old in 1960. I showed up at a local organization that was campaigning for JFK and asked, "What can I do?" Well, what I did was set up chairs, put them away, sweep the floor and stuff envelopes. I thought it was well worth my time, and never even thought of being paid.

Since then, I have been a volunteer for many people's campaigns and for the local Democratic Party organization. As I gained useful skills, I was able to contribute those skills, and did a lot less grunt work. I've still never been paid, even when doing the same things I do for a living to help the campaign.

Most campaigns have a paid staff as well as volunteers. Sometimes, volunteer workers provide highly skilled services to the campaign without being paid. Other times, volunteer learn new skills while helping on campaigns. There's room for both types of people in campaigns. Not everyone seeks to be paid. Not everyone expects to be paid. Many people want to help elect someone whose positions they support.

We should not insist that everyone who works on a campaign be paid. Many do not do what they do for money, but are dedicated to helping a candidate win an election.

Both paid workers and volunteer workers are very valuable.

[brooklynite]

5. "Everyone who's performing work on a campaign should be paid."

This is beyond idiotic. It would massively increase the cost of campaigns as well as saddle them with documentary paperwork.

Campaigns are largely volunteer, we won't be changing that anytime soon.