Minimum fees call

As with almost all workers providing an essential public service, British Sign Language/English interpreters have seen their pay massively eroded following the government’s public sector funding squeeze and privatisation agenda.

 
The National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters (NUBSLI), a part of Unite, has called for a minimum fees structure to combat interpreters’ unremitting pay erosion, which has seen pay rates fall by approximately 12 per cent since the coalition government came to power in 2010.

 
NUBSLI branch secretary Nicky Evans said the situation for the deaf community has become increasingly dire.

 
“The drive to cut costs at any cost is setting back the incredible strides made by the deaf community over the past 30 years,” Evans said. “We believe that some contracts are being awarded at levels so low that the provision of services can only be offered by persons with low level language qualifications and no interpreting skills.

 
“Over the last few years there has been less work available for our members indicating that deaf people are losing out on access whether at work or in other areas of their lives,” Evans added. “This is completely unacceptable.”

 
NUBSLI has called on the government to support a minimum fees structure, which is laid out in detail here.

Evans explained the importance of having minimum fees in place.

 
“NUBSLI believes that the introduction of a minimum fees structure will go some way to protecting not only our members’ livelihoods but a profession that is a lifeline to the country’s deaf community,” Evans said.

 
“The government needs to recognise the far reaching implications of its damaging public sector spending cuts,” he went on to say. “Deaf people are losing out. The very future of the interpreting profession is at risk. It will be impossible to maintain the profession’s commitment to high standards and ethics if terms and rates of pay continue to be slashed.”

 
NUBSLI’s 200 members provide interpreting services for deaf people in all areas, including in court and television. They are employed by agencies such as the police and local authorities, which are each facing enormous budget cuts of their own.
NUBSLI, which was established in May of this year, is Unite’s fastest growing branch, representing 20 per cent of the BSL interpreting profession.