ASL interpreters fight for their union

Workers providing interpretation services through national companies are escalating their fight for union recognition and service improvements

SEATTLE, WA (April 18, 2025) — For the last year, Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) has been organizing ASL Interpreters who provide Video Relay Services at two major national companies, ZP/Better Together and Sorenson. Since going public in September 2024 both companies have refused to come to the table and agree to a card check neutrality agreement with the ASL Interpreters Union–OPEIU (ASLIU).

Video relay services (VRS), is a taxpayer paid service funded and overseen by the FCC. In Washington State, OPEIU Local 8 estimates there are about 250,000 deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind VRS users and approximately 250 VRS interpreters.

VRS interpreters and users have been speaking out about the inadequate service quality in the VRS industry for years. The two largest providers of VRS, Sorenson and ZP/ Better Together (recently acquired by Teleperformance) have prioritized a profit over people model that has had a disastrous impact on service quality for users.

Photo: ASLIU-OPEIU

ASLIU’s organizing efforts have brought the struggles and stories of deaf, hard of-hearing, and deaf-blind VRS users closer to FCC officials than at any point in the history of the VRS industry at large.

In January, Rep. Greg Casar sent a letter to the FCC urging the agency to act on its duty to regulate VRS. On February 27th, Rep. Greg Casar and the ASLIU held a joint press conference outside of the FCC in Washington, DC, reinforcing this demand. On March 10th, twenty-three Congresspeople penned a letter to the FCC outlining their concerns about VRS and the rights of interpreters to organize.

Now, the workers are escalating their fight for union recognition nationwide. ASLIU will be hosting two virtual town halls in April in conjunction with Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX). A first of its kind public forum for users of VRS, the town halls will also feature Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Anna M Gomez.

VRS users will be sharing their experiences and concerns with the service. The VRS user Town Hall on April 22 will be followed by a forum for ASL Interpreters to share their experience of deteriorating working conditions in the VRS industry on April 30.

The workers are inviting allies to join these forums and learn more about their organizing effort, and the experiences of the people VRS serves.

Register for the April 22 town hall.

Register for the April 30 town hall.