Register to attend Zoom events below.
On April 22 at 8:30 am ET, the ASL Interpreters Union–OPEIU (ASLIU) and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar
(D-TX) will host a first-of-its-kind public forum for users of Video Relay Service (VRS), featuring
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Anna M. Gomez. VRS users will share
their experiences and concerns with VRS, an essential service regulated by the FCC and funded
by American consumers of telecommunications products.
The VRS user forum will be followed by a forum for ASL Interpreters to share their experience
of deteriorating working conditions in the VRS industry on April 30 at 8:30 am ET. Members of
the media are encouraged to attend both events:
BACKGROUND:
In January, Rep. Greg Casar and Rep. Jan Schakowsky sent a letter to the FCC urging the agency to act on its duty to
regulate VRS. On Feb. 27, Rep. Greg Casar and the ASLIU held a joint press conference outside
of the FCC in Washington, DC, reinforcing this demand.
ASLIU’s organizing efforts have brought the struggles and stories of Deaf and Hard of-Hearing
VRS users closer to FCC officials than at any point in the history of the VRS industry at large.
Register here for April 22 VRS User Town Hall: bit.ly/vrs-users-town-hall
Register here for April 30 VRS Interpreter Town Hall: bit.ly/vrs-interpreters-town-hall
VRS interpreters and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing VRS users have been speaking out about the
poor working conditions, low pay and inadequate service quality in the VRS industry for years.
The two largest providers of VRS, Sorenson and ZP/ Better Together (recently acquired by
Teleperformance) have prioritized a profit over people model that has had a disastrous impact
on interpreter working conditions and service quality for users over recent years. Deaf and
Hard-of-Hearing VRS users are an integral part of the ASLIU’s unprecedented efforts to improve
both services for millions of VRS users and working conditions for VRS interpreters across the
country.
Rep. Casar represents Texas’ 35th congressional district, which extends from San Antonio to
Austin. ZP Better Together is headquartered in Austin, and a considerable number of VRS
interpreters reside in Congressman Casar’s district.
ABOUT OPEIU
The Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, represents
approximately 94,000 working people throughout the United States and Canada. Representing
employees in nonprofit organizations, tech, hospitals, hotels, credit unions, insurance agencies,
colleges and universities, administrative offices and more, OPEIU is committed to advancing
economic justice for working people no matter their occupation. Professional organizations and
guilds affiliated with OPEIU are a diverse group that includes podiatrists, teachers, registered
nurses and helicopter pilots. OPEIU is an affiliate of the 15-million-member strong AFL-CIO.