Martin Yost, Purple Communications
Staff Representative and Nationally Certified Sign Language Interpreter, ASLIU (PMG-TNG-CWA)
Hello all! I come to you in solidarity as a CWA brother out of PMWG-TNG-CWA Local 39521. My name is Martin Yost and I have been a professional sign language interpreter since 1989. The field of interpreting is largely un-Unionized, except for some court interpreters, educational interpreters, and video interpreters. It is a profession where unionization is gaining traction as interpreters have become more commoditized with the passing of a series of legislative measures that require communication accessibility. While the commoditization of interpreting increases, so does the need for more interpreters. Interpreting services have been found to be a lucrative market for corporations. As corporations increasingly employ interpreters, so also come the demands that corporations enforce upon the talent who provide the service.
Interpreters historically have been engaged in private practice settings. To that end, it was the interpreters who called the shots and established best professional practices through collaborative efforts over the years. Because the job of interpreting couldn’t get done without interpreters, it was we who established professional membership organizations, certifying bodies, and we were able to shape the market. Over the years, as many laws became passed that increase language accessibility, colleges and training programs churned out interpreters to meet the demand. As the demand grew, interpreting became a business opportunity for investors and corporations who had no interest in the profession before.
As it turns out, corporate providers make huge profits, charging large sums of money for interpreting services for hospitals, schools, courts, etc. Video Relay Service (VRS) came about around 15 years ago, and that changed the landscape of the interpreting profession. Essentially, VRS allows deaf and hard of hearing people to use the telephone via video with a sign language interpreter. Because of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires equal communication access for deaf people, the FCC – the government – funds VRS service, which operates 24/7. This places a huge demand on interpreting services and VRS providers have popped up like weeds clamoring for their piece of the profit.
Over the years, as companies merged and became more corporate, the performance demands of interpreters became increasingly strict. In the year 2012, a small group of interpreters organized a union at Purple Communications. I am proud to say I am one of the original organizers and carried out a successful campaign as we unionized four call centers. I served on the bargaining committee for our first union contract – we became known as American Sign Language Interpreters United (ASLIU). Upon ratification of the labor agreement, I was offered, and accepted, a staff position with Pacific Media Workers Guild, Local 39521. My duties as the Local Staff Rep are to act as the primary administrator of the collective bargaining agreement and I am the Guild’s designee when dealing with management and HR at Purple. Currently, our focus is gearing up to bargain our next labor agreement. Additionally, I was nominated to serve on the Customer Service Committee last fall and am proud to represent not only interpreters as customer service professionals, but all customer service professionals.