AB432, AB1032, and CALI Misinformation Message to Interpreters
Last Saturday, CFI Local convened a morning membership meeting in response to concerns about two interpreter bills presently working their way through the legislative process. It was a thorough discussion, questions were raised, answers given, and in the end, there was a general consensus that what these bills were trying to achieve were worthy of our local’s support, such as:
- Updating, after more than twenty years, the California Government Code sections established by the Trial Court Employment and Labor Relations Act, to remove references to things that do not exist anymore, and to truly incentivize and promote the employee model for providing interpreting services in the Courts.
- Creating a path by which indigenous language interpreters can be employees, with steady work and a health plan, even though they would require relay colleague interpreters.
The bills are still in their formative stages and amendments are still possible … many sound ideas and suggestions were taken away from our meeting.
It has come to our attention that interpreters, including our members, have received a communication from a pseudo professional organization called CALI-California Alliance of Legal Interpreters in which is solicited support to oppose these two bills. The truth of the matter is that this is yet another attempt by expelled members from Region 2 to denigrate and stymie efforts by the local to achieve goals beneficial for the rank-and-file members.
The address corresponds to the residence of one of the expelled members, Daniel Navarro; there is no website, there is no “membership,” nor “alliance” other than those who were expelled from CWA some time ago. It is a front to continue harassing our local for these expelled members having been exposed as the nucleus of a decertification drive against CWA, using the local’s funds and resources, even while one of them, Mary Lou Aranguren, was both a member and an employee of the local!
When we see or receive communications from this CALI group, we would all do well to keep in mind what are the present motivations, as well as the history of these same folks during our bargaining period in Region 2. These persons are the same group who led a disunity campaign, pestering people to not participate in mobilizations and work actions, all designed to bring down the local’s efforts to achieve at the table agreements that would be beneficial to ALL employee interpreters throughout the Region. They are the same persons who campaigned to not accept the 12% wage increase … the second highest wage increase in Region 2 since we became employees.
Do not allowed yourself to be dissuaded by people whose intentions are obviously far from promoting what is beneficial to employee interpreters; the motivation is clearly revenge and spite for having been expelled those many years ago. Our local has experienced harassment and negativity from them ever since.
If you have questions or concerns about the bills, contact your leadership at the local. Do not go down the rabbit hole with people who do not have your best interest at heart.
In unity – CFI Local 39000 TNG-CWA Legislation Committee
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Election Committee Results 2023
We want to thank all members who volunteered for the Election Committee.
We were proud to have received twelve volunteers answer the call to serve. In order to expeditiously respond to issues during campaigns and elections, the committee is limited to five members. The membership-at-large had the honor of choosing five volunteers through the democratic process. The following are the results and new members of the Election Committee:
Congratulations to all who participated in the process.
Gloria Lindemann
Patricia Torres
Irene Luevano
Christina Guerrero-Harmon
Diana Pasillas
In Unity,
Janet Hudec, VP
CFI Local 39000
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Candidates for the Election Committee
Ana Esquivel
Region 1
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Viviana Gardea
Region 4
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Christina Guerrero
Region 2
I will work with a team that will handle a fair and open election process for the CFI membership. I found the 2021 Executive Board elections to be cumbersome and expensive, so I wrote an email to the then Elections Committee and decided that next time I would volunteer to become involved. As a member of the elections committee, I will work towards:
- Planning and implementing an organized and transparent election cycle
- Providing clear instructions to members so that this process is straightforward
- Creating reports that are easy to audit and verify
Thank you for your vote
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Hernan Laffitte
Region 2
I'm always thankful for the work the Union does to defend our rights. As a member of 6 months, it's an honor just to be in the running.
Thanks,
Hernan Laffitte
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Gloria Lindemann
Region 4
Greetings, Members!
My name is Gloria Lindemann, and I am running for the Election’s Committee as a representative for Southwest Court, Region 4. As an experienced interpreter and advocate for workers’ rights, I am committed to creating a fair, transparent, and inclusive election process that prioritizes the needs and concerns of our hardworking interpreters.
I will work tirelessly to protect your voices and rights, actively seeking out feedback to continuously improve and strengthen our democracy. Its important to me that we unite our federation to serve all members interest, and as a committee member, I will ensure that our election processes remain accessible and equitable
Sincerely,
Gloria Lindemann
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Roxana Lopez
Region 1
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Irene Luevano
Region 1
My name is Irene Luévano. I'be been with Region 1, LASC for five years now, working at Stanley Mosk courthouse.
I think myself a just, reasonable and confident person, the traits I think would make an ideal participant to any activity within a union. Through my participation in the election committee I'm hoping I can provide transparency for my fellow union members during this time where, I feel, a lot of members have questions about the process.
I think my fellow interpreters and co-workers would agree that I am an easy-going, reasonable and understanding person, an ideal volunteer to ensure things are carried out properly, fairly and per the set guidelines.
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Concepcion Mendez
Region 1
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Diana Pasillas
Region 1
My name is Diana Pasillas, from Region 1, Stanley Mosk courthouse. I have been with the court for 14 years, in particular, seven as an interpreter. I am running for the Elections Committee because I want to be of service to our union. My relevant experience in this area is, aside from observing the counting of votes for one of our bargaining committee elections, I served in several record-keeping capacities in my daughter’s school PTA and in my HOA. These jobs required fairness, accuracy, maintaining integral records, and communicating effectively. My experience can benefit our union in the upcoming elections.
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Arleen Pineda
Region 2
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Patricia Torres
Region 1
My name is Patricia Torres, I am a Spanish interpreter permanently assigned to the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Region 1. I have decided to volunteer for the elections committee to help the union conduct productive and transparent elections complying with all the rules and regulations established in the bylaws.
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Johanna Valle-Sobalvarro
Region 2 |
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VP Janet Hudec and Secretary-Treasurer Carmen Ramos were invited and are in attendance at the swearing in ceremony for our new Chief Justice, the Hon. Patricia Guerrero.
 
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Ratification of Successor MOU in R1
Dear members,
We are very happy to announce that R1 has ratified the Successor MOU! Congratulations to our R1 Team for the amazing work and dedication. This was a historical achievement; I am honored to have been part of this process.
Carmen Ramos
Secretary-Treasurer
R1 Chair
CFI Local 39000
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R1 is Bargaining for a Fair Contract TODAY!
Downtown LA (March 7, 2023) Thank you to KFI 640 am, Univisión 32, The LA Times, News Of The World, Spectrum News, Estrella TV, Telemundo, Vision Latina TV, ChinaPress & Telerey for attending our press conference for Local 39000 California Federation of Interpreters. Today CFI is negotiating their new contract and thanks to all of you their message was heard loud and clear yesterday in the City of LA.
LOST IN TRANSLATION: SHORTAGE OF COURT INTERPRETERS IN LOS ANGELES REACHES CRITICAL POINT
LA Superior Court is facing a critical shortage of court interpreters for indigenous languages, Spanish, and other languages- creating a two-tier justice system for individuals who do not speak English proficiently.
Court interpreters are a constitutionally guaranteed right. The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right for non-English speaking individuals to have access to a court interpreter when they are involved in a legal case. Without proper interpretation, vulnerable and marginalized individuals are unable to effectively express themselves or comprehend the court process.
Los Angeles is a very diverse county with over 200 languages spoken; however LA Superior Court is mismanaging the Language Access Funds by not valuing their workforce that is leaving the courts in record numbers, and failing to hire indigenous language interpreters as employees with equal access to county benefits.
The Los Angeles Superior Court must take immediate steps to address the disparity, e.g., engaging with indigenous language experts and community organizations in order to gain a better understanding of the language needs of indigenous court users; increasing interpreter availability; & ensuring that all court documents are available in multiple languages. Only then will we be able to achieve equal access to justice for all.
Thank you to our preferred vendor Cosmos Sound, Lightning & Video for their amazing work. @cosmosslv
Photo: Begonya De Salvo, Regional Representative & Spokesperson for CFI & Jasmin Espada, Publicist for The California Federation of Interpreters @cal.interpreters |
LASC reaches a new low: Alyiah Hadt blames CFI for not providing VRI rooms in LASC
Dear members,
Interpreter Unit Manager, Alyiah Hadt, reached a new low today: at a level 2 Grievance meeting regarding auditory damage to 3 of our members because of the way remote interpretation has been used (and abused) in LASC; Ms. Hadt had the nerve to say that VRI rooms were available, but were not made available to employees because the Union would file complaints with PERB.
As you all know, complaints have been filed in the past regarding this manager. HR did nothing.
We, as a Union, deserve to be treated with respect and honesty. CFI has requested VRI rooms from the onset of remote proceeding's implementation, and during bargaining.
Your Union says: enough! we need to send a clear message to administration that this manager is bringing Language Access to a screeching halt in LASC, and terrorizing our members; as well as causing damage to them because of her non existent managing skills.
Your Region 1 Delegate will be reaching out to you shortly. Stayed tuned.
In Unity,
Carmen Ramos
Secretary-Treasurer, CFI Local 39000
R1 Chair |
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