May 27, 2005

On Thursday May 26, your bargaining committee met with representatives of the Region 4 Regional Committee. Both sides went back to the table to try to hash out their differences over the critical article on Employment Status. Your bargaining committee spent hours working to craft language on a counter proposal that is inclusive so that as many interpreters as possible are eligible for benefits based on how much they work and their years of service.

It appears that even though SB 371 became law over two years ago, the courts in Region 4 have managed to keep themselves in the dark about what the true intent of the law is and what their obligations are in relation to the law. Through the tremendous solidarity shown by region 4 interpreters and the work of our dedicated bargaining team, the Regional Committee is about to enter the Age of Enlightenment. As with anyone coming into the light after they have been safely tucked away in a deep dark place, facing the light can be a painful experience which provokes an urge to retreat from it, and so it appears to be for the Regional Committee.

At the bargaining sessions Union representatives have shined a spotlight on the fact that the law was written with a very specific intent, that all interpreters who have been working for the courts for years and who meet the requirements under the law, would finally have the dignity, respect, and yes, FULL BENEFITS that more honestly reflect the value of the service they provide to the courts.

When SB371 was bargained with the Judicial Council various court representatives participated in the process, including court administrators from Region 4. There is no possible way that these administrators could have reasonably come away from that process thinking that they would get to make decisions about the employment process that do anything other than transition interpreters from the existing workforce and who qualify under the law, into regular full time and part time positions with benefits.

Unfortunately, we have received reports that some court administrators are telling interpreters who crossed the picket lines on May 17 that they will be first in line for getting full time positions with the court. Once again, in an absence of enlightenment about the law, these administrators are unwittingly committing Unfair Labor Practices over which the Union plans to file charges. Regardless of what any court administrator may say or wish were true, the Union is the exclusive representative of interpreters and it is, in fact, illegal for court representatives to meet with anyone, including opt outs and interpreters who crossed the picket line to discuss working conditions, distribution of positions, or anything that falls under the Union's jurisdiction for bargaining. These are issues that will be dealt with at the bargaining table through your committee.

The good news is that in order to speed up the bargaining process more bargaining dates have now been added throughout the month of June. The Region also informed us that the healthcare benefits will work much the same way as the pension. That is to say that they will vary from county to county. We will be providing information as we receive it. The next meeting will be on June 6 in Riverside .

Finally, we would like to say goodbye to Ricardo Serur, one of our bargaining committee members. Ricardo is now a new father and though we feel extremely fortunate to have had him as a member of our bargaining committee and dedicated organizer, we certainly understand that this is a very special time in his life and that being with his new son takes precedence over everything else. Congratulations Ricardo and thank you for the heart and soul you put into the work you have done on behalf of interpreters.

Bargaining team: