Nebraska court interpreters going back to work after reaching payment compromise
Nebraska Supreme Court interpreters are going back to work after reaching an agreement on their salaries.
By News Channel NebraskaLINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Supreme Court interpreters are going back to work after reaching an agreement on their salaries.
After negotiations on Wednesday, the Supreme Court approved a revised adjustment to the court interpreter fee schedule and payment policy.
Constanza Meier, one of the 10 court interpreters who went on strike last week, is glad about reaching a compromise.
“Happy and relieved because we did this walkout as a last resort," Meier said. "We like to work we love our work, we know that we’re needed at the court and we just hated to leave everybody stranded but it was a necessary step."
Last Monday, 10 interpreters went on strike seeking the position's first raise in nearly 20 years.
According to Meier, the interpreters met with a state senator, the court's language access program director and Nebraska State Court Administrator Corey Steel for more than two hours last week.
Steel said they worked to find a middle ground.
“You know a compromise is where both parties walked away and may not be get everything they want, may not be happy but it is a compromise,“ Steel said.
The details of Wednesday's agreement include that sign language and certified deaf interpreters will get $75 an hour, certified language interpreters will get $75 an hour and non-certified will get $50 an hour. They will also get guaranteed travel time paid as per a policy established in 2012.
Steel said the interpreters' work is vital.
“Court interpreters are vital to the justice system and what we do in the judicial branch,” Steel said. "Obviously, they are a piece of this big puzzle that we have."
Meier says that without the administration's support this would not be possible.
“We’re grateful to the administration for being willing to listen to us, to work with us and to finally agree to give us a raise,” Meier said.
Steel and Sen. Dungan have agreed to continue to advocate and work with the Legislature for future funding for interpreters.
The interpreters will return to work on Thursday and the new payment policy will go into effect July 1.