1,000 signatures reached
To: Gov. Jay Inslee and Joel Sacks, Director of Labor & Industries.
Allow independent L&I interpreters to contract directly, without restrictions, with a dual system.
We want the Department of Labor and Industries to allow independent L&I interpreters to contract directly, and without restrictions, with a dual system.
Let providers decide when to use a web portal, or contact independent interpreters directly.
Allow L&I interpreters to cover block-time appointments, and keep the same pay rate, while keeping mileage reimbursement available for all.
We also want L&I to protect our local economy, by choosing a local company to distribute appointments through the scheduling system that is set to be implemented no later than September 1st, 2020.
Keep our jobs in Washington State.
Why is this important?
Labor and Industries has determined that Independent interpreters will be limited to cover only emergency, and urgent care appointments, when they implement the scheduling system in September.
They also have chosen an out of state company to handle the distribution of appointments, a move that will drive interpreting jobs away from Washington State, and possibly out of the country. This company changed their name from MyLanguageLink to InterpretingWorks to do business in Washington. This is a company whose owners have ties with WFSE/Local 1671/Interpreters United.
As independent contractors and Interpreters, we are a vital part of our economy, and provide an invaluable service to injured workers. With our economy already weakened by COVID-19, we must do everything we can to protect it.
Please join us, and ask the Department of Labor and Industries to do what's right for the majority of workers which are independent interpreters. Let's keep jobs in our state, tell L&I to allow independent interpreters to work without restrictions!