500 signatures reached
To: Governor Jay Inslee
L & I implements SSB 6245 Language Access Providers WITHOUT A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT
Interpreters Rising is calling on Governor Inslee to hear the voices of the Labor & Industries Language Access Provider regarding delaying SSB 6245 “Language Access Providers” effective date September 1, 2020. Which requires the governor or governor’s designee (Department of Labor & Industries) SHALL represent the public employer (Language Access Providers) for bargaining purposes. “There SHALL be a COLLECTIVE BARGAINING as defined in RCW 41.56.030.”
Why is this important?
On July 22, 2020, the Department of Labor & Industries announced the launch of a new spoken language interpreting scheduling system with Interpreting Works starting in Fall 2020.
The Department of Labor & Industries is requesting that all interpreters enroll now. This is a real-time listing of available interpreting jobs located in proximity, accessible through mobile devices or a home PC. It also syncs jobs assignments with calendars and provides electronic invoicing for PROMPT PAYMENT.
Who is responsible for paying the Language Access Providers? The Department of Labor & Industries or Interpreting Works?
Under RCW 41.56.113 (2) “This Subsection (2) applies only if the state does not make the payments directly to the language access provider. Upon the authorization of a language access provider within THE BARGAINING UNIT and after CERTIFICATION or RECOGNITION of the BARGAINING UNIT’S exclusive bargaining representative, the state SHALL require through its contracts with third parties that”
a. The payment of monthly union dues as certified by the secretary of the exclusive bargaining representative be deducted from the payments to the language access provider and transmitted to the treasure of the exclusive bargaining representative.
Labor & Industries is implementing SSB 6245 affecting language access providers without a Collective Bargaining Unit in place.
The state of Washington introduced a House Bill 2691 as amended by the Senate in the 2020 regular session relating Collective Bargaining for Language Access Providers, Approved by Governor Inslee on April 2, 2020.
This amendment gives the right to language access providers from the Department of Labor & Industries under RCW 41.56.030 to have a “Bargaining Representative” for collective bargaining to a lawful organization. The Scope of collective bargaining for language access providers is limited solely to:
1. Economic Compensation such as the manner and rate of payments, including tiered payments.
2. Professional development and training.
3. Labor-management committees.
4. Grievance procedures.
5. Health and welfare benefits; and other economic matters.
The “Exclusive Bargaining Representative” of language access providers in the unit specified in (a) of this subsection shall be representative CHOSEN IN AN ELECTION conducted pursuant to RCW 41.56.070.
Governor Inslee, Interpreters Rising is a labor movement organization that encourages the practice to have a collective bargaining unit, the practice to organize, the practice to unionize. The Department of Labor & Industries is acting unilaterally without a bargaining representative to represent language access providers. Such action constitutes a violation of our labor rights.
Due to the unprecedented nature of the Coronavirus Pandemic Crisis, Labor Organizations have not been allowed to hold group campaigns or union card signing events as we are observing and adhering to social distancing guidelines set forth by your office. However, Labor & Industries Language Access Providers deserve the freedom to choose their representative by election. The right to fair working conditions, and the right to Unionize!
We are calling on you to please take prompt action and delay SSB 6245 from taking effect until June 30, 2021.