July 26, 2006

On July 22, 2006 CFI held a meeting to discuss Administration’s final offer and hear from the members. The meeting was called in response to management’s decision to impose it’s final offer which was made on July 12, with only seven days notice from offer to imposition on July 19, 2006. CFI members attended the meeting in large numbers and overwhelmingly supported the bargaining team’s decision not to accept the Court’s proposed 2.5% wage increase or the court’s changes in the assignment process for Spanish interpreters that undermine seniority for next day assignments. The membership voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike should the bargaining committee determine that no further progress can be made.

At the meeting, members of the bargaining committee explained to the membership that the union’s last proposal before going to mediation included: 1) a 4% wage increase; 2) a proposal to restore the two half-day rates for covering two court locations for C and F status employees; and 3) recognition of interpreters’ historic seniority through an accelerated vacation accrual that would have netted regular status interpreters up to one more week of vacation for the upcoming year. The court flatly rejected our entire proposal, and would not budge of their offer of 2.5 % on wages. The sentiment expressed by virtually all interpreters who attended the meeting is one of outrage. It is difficult for interpreters to fathom why the court would treat its employees so shabbily. The Union believes that the court declared impasse and imposed these conditions illegally without engaging in good faith bargaining as required by law. Apparently this is the first time the Court has imposed terms and conditions in this way. Our attorneys are pursuing this issue with the administration and are in the process of filing an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge with the state of California’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).

We believe it is in the best interest of the court and its employees to go back to the bargaining table and engage in genuine bargaining. The message from interpreters is clear that the imposed offer is offensive and not acceptable.

CFI stewards and courthouse liaisons in Region 1 will be in touch with interpreters to let you know what is next. Please stay in close touch with union contacts at your courthouse.