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GUEST: Silvia Bardon, President of the California Federation of Interpreters, which is affiliated with the Communication Workers of America.

Southern California court interpreters have been on strike for more than two weeks. Ninety-four percent of the Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Superior Court interpreters chose to strike – withholding their labor in what promises to be a lengthy battle. A large percentage of interpreters are not native born, tend to be older in age, and even though they attained employee status only 2 years ago, the overwhelming majority of then have worked for the Courts for more than 10 years. Those of them who interpret the major languages like Spanish, Korean, Armenian, and Chinese, were required to pass a rigorous certification exam. The rest are registered interpreters. Because of their diverse backgrounds, certifications and experience, they are in an ideal position to facilitate access to the justice system, not just for defendants, but also for victims, witnesses and other interested non-English proficient populations. A new census reports indicates that 53 percent of people in LA speak a language other than English at home. Although it’s clear that interpreters provide an essential service, the workers say that Court management refuses to treat them in the same manner as the rest of the Court employees.

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