Working for free

I'm getting increasingly frustrated with the number of jobs in the entertainment business for which don't pay a proper wage, and the expectation that in order to get anywhere you need to be willing to sacrifice pay for 'experience', especially when starting out. This seems to be true whether you are creative, performing, production or admin staff.
I'm not picking on those groups of students or young actors who club together to put on a show, and accept to do it on a basis of sharing the box office takings after paying for the production costs, after all Britain's fringe festivals would be less exciting if this was the case.
My issue is organisations who attempt to carry out their business with out raising the correct funding to do so. My view is that if they are actively recruiting specialist staff or talent, they should also be actively seeking the subsidies or financial backing to pay for those staff. Some are using interns or work experience placements to effectively fulfil what should be a staff role on a low paid or unpaid basis.
I am even more insulted when I read adverts carry the 'no money, but it'll look great on your CV' or 'be a way into the industry and give you contacts'. I'm not particularly convinced by these claims. I'm not saying it's of no benefit, but I'd imagine it to be of a significantly lower benefit than a professional position. Imagine the quality of those contacts if they're all working for gratis.
Looking at a couple of job sources from the last day or so, here's what I see:

• Arts council email: 20 paid jobs, 12 unpaid/volunteer.
• Theatre website: 5 jobs listed today, all low paid or unpaid.
• Film website: 5 paid jobs listed today, 10 low or unpaid
• Film website: of the last 20 jobs posted only 2 are marked as paid.
• Music website: better than most... couple of the last ten ads where payment isn't mentioned (mainly audition calls), but presumed and one internship.

I can't afford to work for free, few people can, but it seems to still be expected in this industry, in a country where we've in theory got a minimum wage. The unions are reasonably effective in negotiating reasonable minimums with the organisations where they are recognised, but so many organisations don't recognise the unions. (I've only once worked under a union negotiated contract, in nearly five years of working).
Maybe those in the industry should seriously consider stopping working without being paid a living wage, and see if the industry can then find that money they should be paying...