Los Angeles Court Interpreters on Strike

For More Information: Silvia Barden – (714) 357-2980, Mary Lou Aranguren – (510) 290-8103, Alex Abella – (818) 389-7847

Note to Editors: List of picket locations included in this release

LOS ANGELES - Interpreters for the California court system in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties went on an unprecedented strike today, one that will impact the busiest court system in the entire world.

Interpreters hired by the courts claim their wages are a third to half that of interpreters working for other employers. They say low wages and poor working conditions have caused a shortage of interpreters working for the courts. The difficulty in filling interpreter jobs is limiting access to the justice system by the non-English-speaking public.

The 400-plus interpreters for the Superior Courts in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo have been negotiating over pay issues since May.  Their union, the California Federation of Interpreters (CFI), an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), is seeking salary standards similar to those enjoyed by thousands of other court employees.

"Interpreters have had only had two cost-of-living increases in eight years," said CFI head Silvia Barden.  "We're excluded from the salary step system other employees have that provides regular increases based on years of service."  Interpreters, employees with many years of loyal service, make the same income as a brand new employee on day one.  That's unfair and unequal treatment for these uniquely skilled professionals who provide a vital service to the public and to our court system."

The pay disparity has caused problems with retaining qualified interpreters, said CFI leaders, who noted that statewide the pool of court certified Spanish-English interpreters has dropped by a third in the last 12 years, despite increased caseloads.  The union cites reports which say there is a shortage of 20 to 40 interpreters each day in Los Angeles, postponing and delaying legal proceedings for members of immigrant populations, potentially driving up court costs through delays.

CFI's members provide interpreting services for people speaking dozens of different languages and dialects. There are thousands of interpreter-assisted cases each day in the counties CFI serves.  "The population we serve includes the most victimized people in society and our services open the doors of justice for them to make their cases in the courts,'' said Barden.

The interpreters' salary proposals would have no adverse impact on the court budget, CFI says, because sufficient state funds earmarked for interpreter salaries already are allocated in the budget.

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Main Picket Sites:
o Criminal Justice Center- Downtown Los Angeles, Temple @ Broadway
o Long Beach Superior Court- 415 Ocean @ Magnolia 
o Metro Superior Court- 1945 South Hill Street
o Pomona Superior Court- 400 Civic Center Plaza
o Van Nuys Superior Court- Civic Center, Erwin Street Mall