>

I have thought at times that volunteers and interns should go on strike.
>Would a strike force institutions to raise the funds to pay their
>volunteers? Or would the museum die? Unfortunately, I think we're so
>desperate for experience leading to paid work that we could never
>organize a strike and find out what would happen. Not that I want to see
>museums go under...
>
regarding the above from Rachel Coffey....

The museum would not die because a great many people volunteer for reasons
other than to get experience, particularly in the case of retired people.
The social environment and being a part of something interesting and unique
is a real enticement for people who can afford not to get paid.  Its the
nature of this business that one has to really hustle to get their first
"break" or 2. There are probably several people in the US who strted good
Museum jobs over the last couple of months and I bet that, on the average,
they pounded a little more pavement and made a few more follow up phone
calls than those who didn't.  Then again, maybe not.....