CFI :: Region 1 Strike Bulletin #5

As we enter the 9th day on the picket lines, let’s be very clear to ourselves and to each other about the stakes in this struggle. And those stakes are high.

The Court administration began to set the stage for this conflict two years ago when it refused to even consider union proposals to give interpreters some vacation and sick leave credit for all of the time they had worked for the courts as contractors with no benefits. In those negotiations, the administration also refused to consider any pay adjustment that would help close the gap caused by all those years without raises. The benefits were enough, they said, to fix all of the wrongs. We knew better.

Fast forward, then, to last year when court negotiators didn’t even think enough of us to bother themselves with considering our proposals or the arguments for them. They came to the table with minds made up, met for a couple of sessions where they told us what we would have to accept, and then, without even the pretense of real negotiations, imperiously declared impasse and imposed a 2-1/2 percent raise.

This year we dared to hope that we and our union would be afforded at least enough respect to have our proposals seriously considered. We proposed seniority steps – a reasonable approach, we thought, since virtually every other unionized employee in the L.A. court system has such steps. AND—we showed them the money is available to pay for it. We offered to be flexible in the way steps were implemented. What we got from court negotiators was the same take-it-or-we’ll-force-it-on-you attitude we saw last year.

Is the strike about money? Of course it’s not. It never was. We’re not out here because of our greed; we’re out here because of the Court’s arrogance.

Our demand is a simple one: Respect. Respect for us, for our union, and for our profession. We walked out together because we were fed up with being treated like the Court’s unwanted stepchildren. We’ve remained strong because we believe in ourselves and in each other. We’ll go back in together when we win the respect we deserve.

We are in a historic struggle that will set the tone for our negotiations for years, and perhaps for decades to come. So hold your heads and your picket signs high. We are CFI, we are proud, and we are united.

CFI Files Charges - Coercive calls illegal

CFI’s lawyers filed unfair labor practice charges against the L.A. Superior Court for illegally attempting to coerce some interpreters to abandon the strike and cross the picket lines. You’re right to strike is protected by law. It is illegal for management to retaliate against you or to threaten to retaliate.

If you receive a call from a coordinator or other management official telling you “there will be retribution” or making threats of discipline or other retaliation for not crossing the line, tell them you are on strike and that they are breaking the law with their threats. Then report the incident to your picket captain or by email to alubrani@aol.com.

“Enough is Enough”

Those were the rousing words of State Senator Gloria Romero, who on Friday joined our rally on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. More than 100 interpreters came from throughout the county to mark the end of the second week of our strike. Three other prominent politicians who also pledged their support for our cause accompanied Romero: Los Angeles City Council Member Janice Hahn, State Senator Gil Cedillo, and State Assembly Member Michael Eng.

Hahn, who was given a ten-minute break from a City Council meeting to address our members, said court interpreters are a scarce commodity that California cannot do without. She criticized the Courts for paying so little that it has become hard to attract and retain people to the profession. Pointing out that interpreters in federal court earn 40% more, and that those in the private sector can make two or three times what they make in the courts, she said “court interpreters should not be at the bottom off the food chain.”

State Senator Romero, who is a key member of the Public Safety Committee—which oversees the Courts budget—said 91% of her constituents speak a language other than English at home. “Justice speaks in multiple languages, and the courts should do likewise.” She harshly criticized judges who, during the strike, have been recruiting children to interpret, equating it to child abuse. ‘This prolongs the agony that a child feels.” Romero added that the state has given the Courts ample funds to pay for the salary steps the interpreters are demanding. “The State has delivered the money. Where has it gone?” she asked.

State Senator Gil Cedillo congratulated interpreters for exercising their rights, and for the sacrifice they are making. “You are Great Americans for going on strike,” he told the rally. Assembly Member Michael Eng also promised to aid us in whatever way he can in Sacramento.

After the speakers, and a tasty lunch prepared by Manena Fayos, dozens of interpreters continued with a march up to the Civil Court House where a noisy picket line formed at Stanley Mosk Plaza. As one of our members, Flavio Posse said, ‘It was more like a family reunion than a union rally! I consider myself extremely lucky to be part of this group.”

More Colleagues Join Strike

Two more employees, one A-status and one Fstatus, crossed from the dark side and joined our picket lines last week.

The courts continue to feel the pain and “You’re killing us” is becoming a familiar refrain from inside. Now that our sister union SEIU has advised bilingual court clerks not to interpret, judges are simply resorting to trailing all the non-English cases. That tactic will soon backfire on them, as many of those cases will reach the day 10 of 10 this week and may well have to be dismissed. Obviously, this would be a travesty of justice—one that could be easily avoided if the Courts would simply return to the bargaining table.

On Friday, the Long Beach Press Telegram carried a front-page article on our struggle, quoting liberally from our members, who explained what’s obvious to all—this is not about the money, it’s about equality and fairness. You can read it on the Internet at http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_6900626

San Jose Guild donates $500

The fact that they have lots of their own problems these days didn’t keep the San Jose Local from helping with a $500 donation. Many thanks.

Checks arrive this week

The first strike checks of $150 will be handed out at your picket locations this Thursday.