May 27, 2005

Salary and Benefits on the Table

Dear Region 3 Bargaining Unit Member:

Your bargaining committee and Region 3 met again on May 25, 2005 and we finally received a comprehensive proposal from the Region for a first contract including benefits and salary.

The proposal would give full time employees in each court the same benefits that other court employees receive, including employer paid health and pension, sick days, holidays and vacation. However the Region has not yet responded to several burning questions- 1) how does the Region propose each court would determine the number of full time and part time positions; 2) how do they propose these positions would be filled; and 3) what benefits would interpreters in part time regular positions be eligible to receive? The Courts' proposal is clear in its intent to provide no benefits or pay increase to interpreters who work less than 50% time on an as-needed basis, something we have said is not acceptable. The salary proposal is to maintain the current rate of pay and add benefits for eligible employees. Given the lack any cost-of-living increases in five years, the bargaining committee rejected the proposal and will make a counter proposal at the next meeting on June 3, 2005.

In addition to economics, the parties still need to hammer out an agreement on seniority, recognition of years of experience, and professional working conditions and standards. We believe we are close to agreement on grievance and discipline procedures. Although there is much still to work out, Region 3 has shown by this proposal that it is serious about reaching an agreement within our stated timeline, by July 1, 2005. The Union and bargaining committee will now work to resolve remaining differences and reach a tentative agreement that we can recommend to the membership for ratification . As always, our leverage and the degree of our success at the table is directly linked to your support and participation.

If you are not a member, now is the time to join so you can vote on whether or not to ratify the contract.

Enclosed is a FAX you can sign and send out to help us avoid a strike and motivate the Courts to do better than their current proposal. If you want to maximize the benefits you will receive under this contract please look at the enclosed info (instructions on reverse of fax) and be sure to participate. Interpreters statewide will be faxing decision makers because although only Regions 2 and 4 have voted to authorize a strike thus far, a work action is ultimately the last resort in every region if we can't get a contract that the members can ratify. Interpreters in all regions need to send this message on June 1, 2, or 3 to the legislators listed on the instructions.

It's an Investment in Your Future.

Our next bargaining session is June 3 in Modesto. Unit members are welcome to attend bargaining sessions to observe the process. Please contact us at the email below if you would like to attend. What you can also do right now is distribute this update to every interpreter you know. Ask them to get involved in support of our mission- benefits, a fair contract and professional conditions for interpreters!

Questions? Comments? - Please contact us at: cfi@mediaworkers.org or (415) 421-6833