Many of you came to the last two Interpreters United (WFSE) Town Halls and made your demands clear. We heard loud and clear the issues you raised about the interpretingWorks scheduling system.
The overwhelming and pervasive problem is that payments have not been made for jobs done, some from as far back as April 2021. This is a legal matter, not just sloppy work.
Over 60 interpreters showed up to the last Interpreters United (WFSE) Town Hall and made their demands clear.
Interpreters expressed that they want transparency about appointment distribution and collectively demanded that interpretingWorks hold an informational seminar.
interpretingWorks agreed to hold a Town Hall and answer questions Wednesday 7/21 @ 6 PM.
A union is not a YouTube conspiracy video. A union is interpreters coming together to make real change.
WA Interpreters is trying to stop the online scheduling system by filing an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP). When the dust settles and the online scheduling system stays, we interpreters will have a choice to make:
We are happy to announce that our union, WFSE/AFSCME Council 28, created an Interpreter Hardship Fund through the Foundation for Working Families to help interpreters offset pandemic-related financial pressures.
Interpreters United (WFSE) made an initial donation of $15,000, and the fund is now accepting applications: Click here for details or to apply.
Back in 2009, 38 percent of what we earned as Medicaid and social services interpreters was taken by language companies and brokers in what we called the “Broken Brokers System.”
Late cancellations and no-shows meant no pay. We had no protection against claw backs.
So we organized for a union and founded Interpreters United (WFSE).
