Updated Update– August 15

CWA Convention Report:

After our weekly Update had gone to be processed for distribution on Monday, we got Delegate Juan Ramirez’ report. You can read his impressions of the gatherings, and hear how he stepped up to interpret for the delegates from UPAGRA in Puerto Rico – when interpretation was not scheduled.

It is now posted on the website at these links:

Local 39000 Update

August 14, 2017

TNG Conference and CWA Convention

We had expected a report from Local 39000 Delegate Juan Ramirez and have not yet received one.  So here is what I have heard: 

1. Mr. Ramirez did attend both the meetings in Pittsburgh. 
2. At the TNG Conference his resolution urging the use of certified interpreters was passed by the Conference.
3. At the CWA Convention, Mr. Ramirez initially brought forward an appeal of the decision by CWA to place the Local in Temporary Administration, he later withdrew that appeal and the issue is now closed.
4. Neither Mr. Ramirez or anyone else brought forward an appeal of issue of then Local President Torrone going to Paris and the expenses for that trip.  That matter is now closed and the Local will move forward on restitution.
5. Mr. Ramirez initially raised appeal of the recent National Trial Body decision about the expulsion from membership, as well as the order to pay restitution.   Since he was not a party to the case, and did not represent the individuals who were tried, he could not represent their interests and that case will remain pending until the CWA Presidents’ Meeting in June of 2018.
6. CWA delegates passed the CWA Strong resolution – focusing on strengthening the membership of the Union especially in open shops.  We have been advised that we will be able to get some funding to assist us in outreach to non-members and new hires.

When we hear more from Mr. Ramirez about the Conference and Convention we will pass it along to you.

 CFI Conference – Registration is OPEN

2017 is Northern California’s year to host the annual CFI Conference and it has been booked for Oakland Airport Hilton from Friday October 6^th through October 8^th. 

Great speakers have been lined up including: Jeff Adachi, Virginia Valencia, Holly Mikkelson, Athena Matilsky, Agustin de la Mora, Daniel Tamayo, and more.

 You can register here.

Rates have been held at the 2014 level. Rates include all meals, and there will be no late fees.

The leadership of TNG made a commitment to the former local officers to hold the event this fall and we are following through with that.  You have a great opportunity to see old friends, get CIMCE credits, and enjoy some time away from work with other interpreters.

Update - Regions 2 and 3

Santa Cruz and Mendocino Work Actions

Sacramento and San Joaquin Interpreters Picket
Defend Language Access; Protest Pay Inequities

SACRAMENTO, CA (July 30, 2017)_ After a year of negotiations and three-months of delay since the last bargaining session, a mediation session this Wednesday in Sacramento provides one more chance for Region 3 and CFI to reach a settlement that your bargaining team can recommend for ratification. 

Interpreters rejected a Last Best and Final Offer presented by the Region last March and the Courts' negotiator refused to consider a counter proposal from the Union in May. Interpreters met to discuss the issues in June and voted to authorize a strike with participating interpreters voting 100% in favor.

At issue are wages and proposals by the Region to deteriorate employee rights. The proposals would allow courts to waive the use of staff interpreters, and make it harder to protect our work. Several  proposals would make it easier for Courts to use unqualified interpreters by eliminating members' rights to challenge bad practices that are contrary to the Judicial Council's statewide Language Access Plan. 

Court Interpreters Walk Out in 4 Counties
Alameda, San Francisco, Contra Costa and Marin

R2: Unexpected Return to Bargaining Table

In a positive development, the Region asked CFI’s bargaining committee to return to the table after last week’s mediation failed to yield an agreement, and on Thursday the parties confirmed a meeting for Friday afternoon. 

Both sides came back to the table motivated to reach a settlement on outstanding issues. Several non-controversial, non-economic issues were cleared up, and both sides offered compromise positions on other issues, including a conceptual agreement to resolve the two step advancement issues. 
 
While these developments are encouraging, a number of sticking points remain, significantly that the Region wants a longer agreement and the Union is unwilling to extend the term with interpreters getting zero in wage relief for the past year. The Region is also holding up an agreement, inexplicably, over a proposal to deteriorate current terms for night court pay that the Region had not previously made clear, as would be expected, by showing strike through of existing language in a written proposal. 
 
The Region did not make a written proposal Friday, did not come to the table with authority to fully resolve outstanding issues, and was not able to offer bargaining dates this week. As a result the Union said it will forge ahead with plans for work actions while strike plans are finalized.  

Update from the bargaining team in Region 1

August 3, 2017 

The parties met on Monday July 31^st at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, Michael Ferreira was on vacation so alternate Kathleen Sinclair participated in his place.  The CFI team had prepared their entire proposal package and had them approved in advance through the TNG Bargaining process. The court was represented by Joe Wiley, and did not arrive with any prepared proposals.
 
The Union presented a number of proposals regarding housekeeping changes and cleanup of numbering issues, and adding addresses, AB119 access for the Union to new employee orientations, Union participation in investigatory meetings, and clean, safe resting areas for interpreters between assignments.
 
The Court indicated that its biggest issues included Articles 16 and 18 (Employment Status and Assignments); and the rebalancing of vacation benefits based on recordkeeping issues between the County and the Court.   The Court had no specific proposals or details to provide the bargaining committee.
 
The Court expressed its desire to have the terms of this negotiation remain “positive” however, it immediately shut down any attempts from the Union to make in-roads regarding caucus time, travel time to bargaining for the San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara representative, and backfilling of employees while they are engaged in collective bargaining.
 
Doris Vick wrote an update to the Central Coast members:
 
“The meeting started cordial enough. Stephanie Robbins was there for SBSC and Julie Zorn was there for SLO.  LA had 6 people (Superior court attorney, LAP Services, LAP Equality rep, Assignment coordinator ...and I can´t remember the title of the others).  We went over ground rules.  Wiley said in the past they didn´t have any because the union´s spokesperson didn´t want them.  Don´t know if that is true or not.  We had proposed ground rules and went over them.   Joe Wiley made a point of saying they "want to change the paradigm" and "want discussions to be as positive as possible.  He took some responsibility for the fact that in the past they have not been positive.  The team is trying to not be overly optimistic nor overly cynical.  
 
Joe Wiley was pleasant enough until we touched upon the subject of staffing.  He quickly changed his tone and said that if we wanted to go back to the "negative rat hole" we could easily do that if we insisted on trying to tell them when they need to replace an absent interpreter.
 
Our team was prepared with proposals to present.  They did not have any written proposal.  Wiley did say that the "hub" of their proposals will deal with the distinction between assignments and positions.  He went on a very convoluted explanation. The team agreed that until we see a written proposal we cannot be sure of what it is they want.  The other thing they want to address is the benefits (this is a strictly LA issue because it deals with the LA county benefits and how the LA interpreter benefits need to match up).  Again, we do not have any details on that because they did  not give us anything written.
 
We presented 5 proposals.  We purposefully chose those that would be fairly easy and would not be contentious. Two of those were merely corrections of address or typos. One dealt with a new law that allows unions to be present at new employee orientation to make a presentation without management present. The fourth dealt with some time issues and requirements for employee representation during an investigatory meeting. The fifth dealt with adequate interpreter waiting areas.
 
Those were the formal proposals.  We also discussed caucus time for preparation before bargaining and there will be a proposal about that in the future. 
 
The grievance that I filed for the denial of my grievance was resolved.  SB agreed to pay for my time and not charge the union for my steward time :).  The whole issue of organizational leave for the Central Coast will be dealt with later on in the negotiations.
 
Only 1 interpreter in LA was released for today and attended the Watch and Support group. Two others came in during their lunch time. We know many more requested the day off but were denied.”
 
The CFI bargaining team: Doris Vick, Pedro Ramirez, Daniel Kaufman, Roberto Guerrero, Michael Ferreira, Kathleen Sinclair Alternate; with Caren Sensor and Alejandro Delgado from the law firm of Weinberg, Roger & Rosenfeld.
 
Upcoming dates: August 23, 29; September 25; October 11, 18; and November 9, 28.
 
When we know the exact location of the next bargaining session we will send out an update, please continue to mobilize and wear Red on Thursdays!  Please excuse that this update took a couple of days past bargaining session, we have a plan for faster turnaround after the next bargaining sessions.