WHEREAS:
In 2009 the Washington Federation of State Employees Council 28, AFSCME, supported the campaign to organize independent contractor interpreters that served the state’s Department of Social and Health Services clients and Medicaid patients; and
WHEREAS:
It was a highly successful and groundbreaking campaign with a 95% “YES” vote to organize after working to pass groundbreaking legislation during a very difficult time in our history; and
WHEREAS:
Local 1671 and WFSE have led the way creating many other reforms setting the course and leading the way for other states to follow in raising the level of professionalism of interpreters and in organizing interpreters; and
WHEREAS:
Members of Local 1671 Interpreters United have worked diligently and with dedication to overcome the effects of the Harris v. Quinn decision of the Supreme Court of the United States with success in increasing its membership since that decision; and
WHEREAS:
All members of Local 1671 Interpreters United are certified or authorized in their specific languages by the state of Washington, and represent more than 100 languages; and
WHEREAS:
Interpreters of the WFSE Council 28, Local 1671 are the only unionized professionals at the present time; and
WHEREAS:
"Union Produced" is equal to "Union Made" and a guiding value that AFSCME considers for all of its procurements; and
WHEREAS:
AFSCME International has provided interpreters for members in both spoken languages and ASL for those members needing interpretation and translation of documents, for both previous events and the 2016 International convention in Las Vegas.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
Local 1671 Interpreters United encourages AFSCME International to establish as policy for any and all future AFSCME International events that require spoken language interpreters, that it recognize and utilize the extensive professional and great talents within its own membership of Local 1671, and to contract with available members of Local 1671 to interpret and/or translate wherever and whenever possible.
SUBMITTED BY:
Leroy Mould, President and Delegate
Milena Calderari-Waldron, Secretary
AFSCME Local 1671 Interpreters United, Council 28
Washington