Victory in Santa Cruz
by Paz Perry

A sweet victory was achieved on August 12 in Santa Cruz County. At about 4:00 PM Simon Kennedy, Carol Shulman-Mora and I met with Christine Patton, Executive Court Officer and Roy Blaine to discuss the County's most recent revision of their proposed contract. (The County's proposed contract reflected the Model Contract that the Judicial Council put out.) The three of us went in armed with a letter previously signed by Joe Hervin, Adele Negro, Carol Shulman-Mora, Simon Kennedy, Virginia Moore and me. The letter simply stated that we would not sign a contract that had not been mutually negotiated. We also had five previously signed copies of the old county contract we have had in previous years. Adele Negro, Carol Shulman-Mora, Simon Kennedy, Virginia Moore and I signed the old contract.

Administration tried to play hardball but when we pointed out amongst other issues that if the County's old contract was good enough for the non-certified interpreters to sign, it would definitely be good enough for certified interpreters too. Both Ms. Patton and Mr. Blaine admitted that giving the non- certified interpreters the old contract to sign had been a mistake on their part. They then proceeded to offer us the old County contract for an additional year, along with an increase in the mileage rate from .31 to .345. The meeting was very brief, lasting twenty minutes at most.

As for the new interpreters that had already signed the County's proposed contract Ms. Patton and Mr. Blaine informed us that they would extend them the opportunity to withdraw their already-signed contract and sign the contract, if they so desired.

I must say that no one person deserves the credit; this battle was won because of the unity amongst the interpreters. The majority stood strong and firm in their beliefs of fairness, justice and principles. The majority worked and acted as a team, this is certainly a team victory. So much can be achieved through work and effort. Our thanks to attorney Joe Colton for his legal advice. Thanks to Stephanie Moore, Mary Lou Aranguren and BACI for showing us courage when we felt betrayed.