Declaration in Support of the Mission and Autonomy of CFI

.

Whereas the California Federation of Interpreters was formed as a single organization to serve as both a strong professional association and a labor union by and for interpreters to promote greater self-determination, professional growth and fair wages and working conditions for court interpreters;

Whereas the CFI mission as described in our bylaws is to:

• promote policies, activities and legislation that further the interests of professional court interpreters and translators;
• represent the Court Interpreter Unit before any employer including court, local and state agencies; and
• raise awareness of the interpreting profession before professional, community and governmental groups;

Whereas the ability to effectively pursue the CFI mission is dependent on basic support, staffing, resources and respect for our unit within Local 39521;

Whereas CFI officers, stewards and members-at-large are dissatisfied with actions taken by the Local including poor representation, lack of support and the loss of unit autonomy;

Whereas our affiliation agreement with Local 39521 provides that the CFI unit shall operate under its own bylaws with autonomy "to pursue goals and objectives as they deem necessary to support and build the membership" as well as the option to form, at our sole discretion, an autonomous local within TNG-CWA;

Whereas the CFI Governing Board is evaluating the option of forming our own local, with potential benefits that include:

• direct representation and a greater say in our union;
• greater focus on our unique needs and goals in our activities, planning and priorities;
• control over our own dues, staffing and resources; and
• freedom to pursue all facets of our mission as per our bylaws, without top-down interference;

We, the undersigned members of the California Federation of Interpreters, support in principle the goal of forming an autonomous local within TNG-CWA by means of a process that includes careful analysis of all options and informed input from the membership.