Why are VRS Interpreters Organizing? A Factsheet for the Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and Deaf-Blind Communities
- The ASL Interpreters Union is fighting for a strong VRS program. As a union, we will seek to bargain guaranteed minimum service standards in VRS, we will seek minimum employment for CDIs, and stronger training for interpreters. By making VRS a better place to work, we will seek to retain qualified and experienced interpreters.
- Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind users of VRS frequently report long wait times to access calls, hardware and software issues, and insufficient training for interpreters. The result is that many VRS users have reported a decline in the quality of service.
- This decline in service can be traced to the fact that a great deal of money—nobody knows how much—is being siphoned to pay onerous debt service payments and dividends to private equity firms. The FCC has raised concerns about Sorenson’s debt load and debt service payments, but has declined to investigate ZP’s debt load.
- This is the ASLIU Mission Statement: “Our mission is to build an inclusive and strong union, by and for interpreters, that supports us in our work and improves the sustainability of our workplaces. This effort aims to bring humanity back into the essential services we provide and increase the longevity of careers in VRS, leading to further skill development and the retention of seasoned interpreters. Upon winning our union and beginning contract negotiations, we commit to bargaining for the common good: securing a collective bargaining agreement that benefits us as interpreters and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community that we serve. We commit to having representation from Deaf users working closely with our bargaining team and will seek to bargain requirements in our contract mandating how companies can improve service quality.”
How Can VRS Users Get Involved?
- Submit a solidarity photo quote.
- Distribute this factsheet!
- Reach out to [email protected].