CFI :: Region 4 Bargaining Update

August 9, 2005

Dear Colleagues,

As you know by now, your Region 4 bargaining committee went through the mediation process with the courts on Tuesday August 2, 2005. Mediation was scheduled after the negotiations deteriorated and came to a standstill over a couple of issues including the minimum four-hour session pay, the date of expiration of the contract, and a proposed pay cut for new employees. The Region had made an all or nothing offer that included step increases. Until we actually went through the mediation process it was not clear where the necessary compromises would be found.

The Bargaining Committee did not accept that it was an all or nothing deal and agreed that mediation might resolve the deadlock. Both sides went through the painful process of give and take and both felt that they had given more than they ever wanted to. At the end of the day the contract was signed by your bargaining committee in order to present it for ratification to the members. The committee felt that it was the best contract that could be reached and indicated to the court representatives that they would recommend to our members that it be ratified. The union called a ratification meeting as soon as possible, on Saturday August 6, 2005, so that the courts could begin the process of extending offers of regular part time and full time employment to interpreters pro tem by seniority and to get the benefits enrollment process started as soon as possible.

The ratification meeting started with Union Representative Ariel Torrone’s review the provisions of the contract followed by a question and answer session of almost two hours.

Members alternately praised the contract and expressed frustration, and at times anger, at some of its provisions. Concerns were raised about employee contributions to the pension plan. Interpreters in all counties contribute to their pension plans but because of financial problems with the pension plan in Orange County, employee contributions there are higher. These county pension plans are the best available, however, and after looking into alternatives, the committees were satisfied that there were no better plans available. Although the contribution rates are set countywide and are not negotiable, the value of a defined benefit for life, and the benefit levels at retirement cannot be beat. We will be looking into the Orange County situation however, to see if there is any way to address this problem as the county’s financial situation changes.

At the meeting, Silvia Barden, CFI President told interpreters that compromise- sometimes painful compromise- is an inherent part of the bargaining process. And as difficult as the bargaining process had been, the committee worked hard to get the best they could for their members. They felt it was important to get the benefits in place as soon as possible and to reach a contract so as to have a solid foundation in place upon which we all can build.

When the meeting came to an end it was time to tally the votes. Eighty interpreters from Region 4 attended the ratification meeting, 62 were members in good standing from throughout the region. The results showed that 50 voted in favor of ratification, 12 voted against and 7 ballots remain to be counted once it is confirmed that these interpreters are members in good standing. Since the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of ratification, the remaining votes will not change the outcome but we will publish the results anyway.

We encourage you to contact your representatives and bargaining committee members with questions or concerns. We ask for your patience and your help in getting through the implementation process in the coming weeks and months.