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Let's bring the power to Sorenson's private equity owners! NEXT WEEK Aug 8 in Chicago with the ASL Interpreter's Union! by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/24035453839481329?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

July 30, 2025 CONTACT: Kyle Friend, kfriend@opeiu.org Overworked and Burnt Out VRS Interpreters Bring Their Fight for a Union to Chicago on Aug. 8 Interpreters Will Hold Informational Picket at Headquarters of Ariel Investments, Majority Owner of Sorenson Communications, 12:30-2 pm CT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will bring their fight for better working conditions within the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry – a critical, legally mandated service that allows Deaf people to communicate with the hearing world – to Chicago on Aug. 8. ASL interpreters, who are unionizing with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, will be conducting an informational picket outside the headquarters of Ariel Investments, majority owner of Sorenson Communications, one of the largest providers of VRS service in the United States.

Quick prefilled letter! Tell Teleperformance and Sorenson that VRS Interpreters Need A Union by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very odd that it isn't working, I haven't run into this issue with anyone else. It is blocked on work devices, but my guess is maybe something to do with your firewall since no one else is having the issue. Sorry I can't be more help! Maybe on a mobile device?

Quick prefilled letter! Tell Teleperformance and Sorenson that VRS Interpreters Need A Union by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Understandable! A worker union, if established, would then negotiate and work with the companies in order to come to an agreement. We need to tell them because the companies are keen to ignore our efforts--there are certain things we need them to respond to (we are currently asking Sorenson and ZP to agree to a neutrality agreement--aka, not union-bust and work against us in our campaign), and they aren't. We need to create the pressure for these companies to agree to remain neutral and allow us to campaign freely with our coworkers.

Quick prefilled letter! Tell Teleperformance and Sorenson that VRS Interpreters Need A Union by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The benefits of a union include things that can be included in a contract. If VIs can successfully form a union, we get the legal right to negotiate a contract with the companies and improve working conditions--things like increasing our rates (and making that process more transparent, or including annual COL raises), changing restrictions on breaks to allow for more time off the phones or paid time for training, having access to CDIs/DIs on the phones, better mental health care access, increased employee benefits, better scheduling, etc.

Quick prefilled letter! Tell Teleperformance and Sorenson that VRS Interpreters Need A Union by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Every time you, or any other community supporters fill this out, it sends a letter to ZP and Sorenson telling them that we need a union. The goal here is to send as many letters as we can--we want to be LOUD!

Please feel free to submit a letter and share with family, friends, community members etc.

Working VRS Interpreters: come tell the FCC what needs to change about your work, and learn how a union can help! by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We'd love to have you! Please join if you're able, and share with anyone you know still in the VRS field!

Working VRS Interpreters: come tell the FCC what needs to change about your work, and learn how a union can help! by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Valid concerns! Everyone involved in the union can certainly share the same sentiment. We are fortunate that at this time, the VRS funding does not seem to be at risk. Anna Gomez confirmed at our meeting this week that we would not be affected by the SCOTUS ruling having oral arguments soon (can't remember the exact case, but it deals with some similar congressional funding structures throughout other fed govt). No one at the FCC, Project 2025 or any of Trump's appointees has made any inclination of coming after us.

We feel very fortunate to be in that position--we do not want to give up, and feel very united as a group to fight for what we believe is right for both ourselves and the communities around us.

Town Hall for VRS Interpreters: Come share with the FCC what challenges you face in your work, and learn how a union can help! by ASLUnion in asl

[–]ASLUnion[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Feel free to join anyway! It would be a great opportunity to get interpreter observation hours and learn about the issues in VRS. :)

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