CFI :: Region 3 Bargaining Update

Bargaining is going forward as both sides met on June 3 and 10. A huge step forward was taken when the Courts finally gave us the information that has been requested for months about Retirement and Health Benefit plans in the Counties of Region Three. Courts across the region have very good plans- in particular the defined benefit retirement plans in each county are the best type of retirement benefits available.

We have been moving on many issues and are now dealing with an overall, comprehensive agreement. Unfortunately, other than the important movement on health and retirement benefits, the Region still stalls and evades other important issues in the negotiations.

After the Region swore up and down that there was no money whatsoever for an increase in pay, we found that the Judicial Council had allocated another 5 million dollars for anticipated costs of benefits, vacation, and retirement, bringing the total to about 15 million. We were made aware of this fact by CFI president Silvia Barden who was in Sacramento at budget meetings. Ms. Barden called us with the news less than 5 minutes after we were told that there is “Absolutely no money for any kind of increase in compensation.” We also know from meetings in Sacramento that the judiciary budget is well funded and that there are contingency funds.

We are moving forward much more slowly than needed, especially with our July 1, 2005 deadline coming up in a couple weeks. This is not due to lack of effort by your bargaining committee. We have been making every effort to come to an agreement that will be fair for interpreters and reasonable for the courts. We still face a lack of cooperation on the Region’s part regarding seniority, cross assignments, a few key employee rights issues, professional conditions and our proposed increase in pay for interpreters who continue to work on a per diem basis without benefits and for the many experienced interpreters that have worked so hard for many years and been denied standard opportunities that court employees enjoy.

Most of you on average have worked for the courts for ten years or more and have never been given any benefits, vacation, cost of living increases, sick time, or retirement. There has been no cost of living increase in over five years. It is time for the court to give something back for your years of dedication. What kind of workplace gives new employees the same pay rate and seniority as an employee that has worked there for ten years? We are pushing for fairness in the workplace, seniority, benefits, vacation, and professionalism in the workplace that has been extremely lacking for many years. The Union has made the Courts produce information showing that courts are still using non-registered and non-certified interpreters and paying them over $300.00 for a half day and yet claim that there is no money for experienced interpreters. It has been the law for years to use certified and registered interpreters and this has been blatantly ignored.

We need your help to help reach a contract by July. Talk to your co-workers, wear buttons supporting the cause, attend a bargaining session, distribute these bargaining updates, talk about them and let the courts know that we are serious about a contract.

A few years ago, many interpreters considered these opportunities out of reach. With your help this contract can become a reality- and soon! We have made more progress in the last few weeks than we have all year because the Region is finally realizing after months of stalling, that these issues are real and are not going
to be swept under the rug any more. To reach a strong agreement we must be united in the cause. Interpreters are no less important to the courts than court reporters, clerks, bailiffs, attorneys, and judges. We are all key parts of the system and there is no reason we should be denied these rights any longer. Get out there, get involved and let the court know that we mean business!

The next session will be on June 14, 2005 in Modesto. Please contact Mary Lou at the email below if you are interested in attending.

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