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Update for April 14, 2022 Bargaining Session with Region 2 Courts
Today’s bargaining session was all about the wages … it was the main topic of discussion, if not a downright bone of contention.
A very detailed presentation was given by our team:
o Pilar: financial hardships for interpreters in the region, including housing and inflation.
o John: explained interpreter specialized skillset and professional formation/credentialing, how that coincides with commensurate wages (court reporters and certified federal interpreters)
o Janet: covered the budget and allocation of interpreter funds; there is sufficient money in the interpreter budget and unused allocations from each court in the region for getting to a livable wage.
During vigorous, and at times heated discussions the courts responded with some of the following replies and comments to our wage presentation.
When asked if the Region’s team agreed that we have a specialized skillset that requires compensation equal to, or greater than certified federal court interpreters and state level employee court reporters, Monna Radulovich’s replies were obviously misinformed, if not disappointing. “Federal interpreters are very different; they are paid more because they are required to do clerical work when not interpreting.”
The reply regarding lack of wage parity with court reporters, a group with similar requisites (active licensing, continuing education, certification exams, professional preparation expenses) the courts’ replied that “we’ve already discussed this.” Additionally, the courts’ explained that reporters are represented by other unions or are folded into other larger units. Although they recognized there are similarities, we were dismissed with “the marketplace is significantly different for court reporters,” and “the reporter field is disappearing.” Our presentation clearly shows that employee interpreters are disappearing as well.
In the end we were told that Region 2 interpreters are the highest paid in the state, if not the nation. It seemed they completely ignored the part of the presentation highlighting that the present wage does not translate into the ability to live in Region 2, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area. In fact, when it was pointed out to the Region’s team that there was a 37% rise in the cost-of-living compared to the median income range, they completely ignored that the present wage scale for interpreters is BELOW the median income range, thereby making our hardship more than a 37% increase.
When the Region was asked why they believe that the reporter skillset deserves to be remunerated more than the interpreter skillset, the reply was redirected, stating that others in the courts contribute to the functioning of justice, and even though all court employees are equally valued, some of these others are paid at a lower rate. Question avoided …
The Region continued to assert that when comparing interpreters to others in the courthouse the marketplace is different (whatever that meant?), there is more disparity in workforce availability, and particularly with court reporters, their responsibilities are different. Both interpreters and court reporters have a responsibility to the integrity of the record.
In the end, the Region is somewhat dishonest regarding comparisons between court workers. Our team gave a presentation with verifiable and well-sourced data contained in copious pages (herein attached). During the wage reopener we asked them to do a wage parity study; some two years later they still have not undertaken a study, nor have they presented any data or studies whatsoever supporting their failure to give us a wage increase in line with court employees with comparable skillsets.
In conclusion, the Region did express that they would review all the information, as well as the wage proposal, and take it to their “principals” (generally the court CEO’s and a group of presiding judges). We set a tentative bargaining date for May 3rd; after vigorous discussion, the Region agreed to give the team a paid caucus day, to be determined later.
This team remains fully committed to be the voice of the members and represent what the membership needs to come out of these bargaining sessions. There will be meetings; there will be continued work actions. Your continued participation will get all of us what we need to live and work in Region 2.
When we fight, we win.
Your Region 2 Team
Article 22 - Wages and Other Compensation
Complete budget & Index
Inflation Index with supporting docs
Inflation and Housing - Interpreters' Syndicate Presentation
Credentials Final
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