Tentative Agreement in Region 2
Wage Re-opener Yields 3.5% Increase

Your Region 2 Bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement for a wage increase of 3.5% across the board effective October 1, 2007. This brings our starting salary to $73,444. Our proposal for step increases that would reward experience and service was rejected by the courts. The Region said steps may be considered next year, as our contract is open on all subjects. As you know, the step issue was the reason for the strike in Los Angeles and is something we fully intend to pursue statewide in order to raise wages to a competitive level and create a career path for interpreters in the court system.

The Region dropped its proposal to expand our duties requiring that interpreters assist the public outside the courtrooms in locations where we do not normally work. Both sides agreed to drop modifications to the grievance language. In order to bring about an early settlement on the wage increase and guarantee retroactivity, the union dropped all other proposals for a vacation accrual increase and stronger team interpreting language. Nevertheless, we are continuing our campaign to increase the use of team interpreting under current contract language in order to ensure compliance with our ethical obligations to provide complete and accurate interpretation.

We'll be having meetings around the region to continue working on team interpreting, the documentation of interpreter shortages and the use of non-certified interpreters, and laying the groundwork for our full contract negotiations starting in late summer 2008.

You will be receiving a ballot in the next few days, please send it back postmarked by October 30, 2007.

The bargaining committee recommends a yes vote on this tentative agreement.

Region 2 Bargaining Committee