Our History

The California Federation of Interpreters, formerly known as GLAC, was created in 1982 by a group of interpreters working for the Federal and the Los Angeles Superior Courts. Many of these same interpreters were and continue to be involved in the development and administration of the California and Federal court interpreter certification examinations. Shortly after its inception, GLAC affiliated with CCIA as one of its chapters. For a decade, GLAC successfully represented interpreters’ interests in the Los Angeles Superior Court with respect to compensation and grievances. In January 1994 GLAC became an independent organization, free to pursue the goals and objectives of its membership, and later changed its name to the California Federation of Interpreters.

In the late 1990’s, CFI joined with the Bay Area Court Interpreters Association (BACI) in organizing statewide actions and advocacy that resulted in increased compensation for court interpreters statewide. CFI and BACI merged to form a statewide organization and affiliated with TNG-CWA, Local 39521 in order to pursue employment status, collective bargaining rights and full benefits for those interpreters interested in employment with the state courts.

CFI became an organizing local in April 2014 and in 2015 became CFI Local 39000, an autonomous local run by interpreters for interpreters.