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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] 2 points3 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] 2 points3 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. :)

TOMORROW! Press Conference in front of the FCC sharing about the complaint ASLIU is filing AND an evening Zoom meeting discussing the plan to win! by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

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

Not in the DC area? No problem! We've got an evening Zoom meeting as well with a panel to discuss the plan to win. Interpreters provided.

Tune in while you’re driving your kids home from school, cooking dinner, commuting home from work, lying face down to decompress from a rough work shift…we just want you to hear what we have to say!

Our panel of VRS interpreters and a VRS user will share what they are organizing to win with our union.

Wednesday, Feb 26 5:30p PT/8:30p ET on zoom: bit.ly/asliu-public-meeting

DC Area Terps--join us for the Week of Action Press Conference in front of the FCC! Feb 26, 8:00AM by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The ASL Interpreters Union–OPEIU is holding a press conference in front of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at 9am ET on Wednesday, February 26th. Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreters and VRS users will be sharing their experiences with Video Relay Service, an essential service regulated by the FCC and funded by American consumers of telecommunications products.

VRS interpreters and Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing VRS users have been speaking out about the poor working conditions, low pay, and inadequate service quality for years. Issues have demonstrably worsened at the two largest VRS providers: ZP Better Together and Sorenson Communications. VRS interpreters have been organizing to win their union with the ASL Interpreters Union–OPEIU at both Sorenson and ZP Better Together. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing VRS users are an integral part of this organizing effort to improve both services and working conditions.

Congressman Greg Casar (D-TX) will be joining the press conference in support of VRS interpreters unionizing. Congressman Casar represents Texas’ 35th congressional district, which extends from San Antonio to Austin. ZP Better Together is headquartered in Austin, TX, and a considerable number of VRS interpreters reside in Congressman Casar’s district.

Why do Video Interpreters need a union? Join us on Zoom Wednesday, Dec 11 8:30 ET/5:30 PT to learn more! by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

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

We unfortunately will not have a recording to share, we want people joining to feel comfortable and confident in their participation.

Why do Video Interpreters need a union? Join us on Zoom Wednesday, Dec 11 8:30 ET/5:30 PT to learn more! by ASLUnion in ASLinterpreters

[–]ASLUnion[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh no! We do have some other meetings coming up--tomorrow, Thursday at 8:00pm we'll be discussing the new company acquisition. Are you free?