are scheduled through Washington State's coordinating entity, currently ULS and formerly CTS LanguageLink. The contract performance reports are posted on HCA’s website
DSHS APPOINTMENTS
SFY2017 15,836
SFY2016 16,782
SFY2015 15,943
SFY2014 15,556
HCA (Medicaid) APPOINTMENTS
SFY2018 384,656
SFY2017 359,750
SFY2016 327,737
SFY2015 282,636
SFY2014 228,561
SFY2013 201,576 SFY2012 196,176
HCA (Medicaid) BUDGET
Jul 2013/Jun 2015 $25.1M
Jul 2011/Jun 2013 $18.1M
Jul 2009/Jun 2011 $23.0M
HCA (Medicaid) HOURLY RATE
July 2018 $39.76
July 2017 $38.50
July 2016 $38.00
July 2015 $37.10
July 2014 $32.50 July 2013 $32.00 July 2012 $31.50 July 2011 $30.00
FIRST UNION CONTRACT 2010 $21.00
A modified procurement model began on July 1, 2011.
The coordinating entity procurement model began on September 24, 2012.
The new coordinating entity, ULS took over the contract on July 1, 2018.
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What is Interpreters United, Local 1671, WFSE/AFSCME Council 28?
Updated On: Apr 01, 2019
Local 1671 of the WFSE/AFSCME Council 28 is the labor union for interpreters providing services for the State of Washington.
Our union movement began in the fall of 2009 in response to medical and social service spoken language interpreters' frustration with the 'broker system' delivery model, unfair treatment and substandard pay. At first this was just a few people and has now grown to more than 1500 active Interpreters representing many languages around the State!
A survey of our membership conducted in 2016, revealed that interpreters are a highly educated majority female and majority immigrant workforce. 2016 Spring Survey Report.pdf
Interpreters United is a part of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). WFSE is the largest labor union for public service workers in Washington State with 40,000 members. WFSE is part of a nationwide Union called AFSCME (American Federation of State County Municipal Employees) which has 1.6 million members nationwide. WFSE is also known as AFSCME Council 28.
OUR UNION
AFL-CIO
American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations
What were conditions like for most interpreters in 2009?
Interpreters paid only $21 per hr - or less!
Middlemen (Agencies & Brokers) took an average $24.90 (42%) PER APPOINTMENT!
Required 15 minute back up logs if you went over the scheduled time;
No pay for cancellations;
No pay for parking or tolls;
No mileage (some interpreters did get full mileage, but it depended on your agency).
Watch this powerful video of AFSCME members about why to organize, featuring our one of our own interpreters!
Over the past years we have had amazing victories, including:
Saving $16 million in state and federal funding for the medicaid interpreter program when it faced elimination in the Governor's 2010 budget, and again when it faced elimination twice in budgets in 2011. United we saved the optional state program for about 200,000 interpreted appointments per year serviced by approximately 2000 interpreters in dozens of different languages rendered at hundreds of healthcare providers offices. United we protected language access services for Limited English Proficient individuals!
Passing an historic bill 2010 ESSB 6726 granting union rights to independent contractor interpreters for the first time in our nation;
Holding a forum with state officials from DSHS and the Governor's Office of Financial Management (OFM) where over 200 interpreters from around the state gave testimony about the current problems and offered solutions for future improvements to the language access program;
Winning a Union election with interpreters voting 95% UNION YES!
Winning the only state contract for independent contract interpreters in the nation!
Stopping language agencies from violating our first union contract by suddenly imposing 'shipping and handling fees' on our paychecks!
By working together, we can improve the interpreting profession - for ourselves, providers, and the people we serve!
Join us to restore professional pay, benefits and respect to interpreters.
Learn more about Interpreters United by reading our news and checking out campaigns under the "take action" section of this website. You can also join the conversation at www.facebook.com/InterpretersUnited.Contact us at local1671 [at] gmail.com.
2016 Spring Survey Report.pdf
