Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with 21 other congress members, have collectively urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to critically assess the application from Teleperformance/ZP Better Together for certification to offer Video Relay Service (VRS). VRS is a crucial program funded by the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund, designed to provide Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard-of-Hearing individuals with equitable access to telecommunications services.
Felix Reyes, a VRS interpreter from New York City, emphasized the need for qualified interpreters who receive sufficient training, necessary breaks, and professional development opportunities. “We’ve spent the last year organizing with our fellow interpreters to ensure VRS is the service that it needs to be, not a vehicle for corporate profits,” said Reyes. He expressed support for Rep. Schakowsky’s initiative in asking the FCC to hold Teleperformance accountable.
The congressional letter suggests that Teleperformance can alleviate quality concerns in VRS by implementing the labor rights accord agreed upon with UNI, a global labor union federation, in the United States. This accord is already enacted in countries such as Poland, Colombia, Jamaica, El Salvador, and Romania.
Tyler Turner, president of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, highlighted the significance of a robust working environment for VRS interpreters. “For too long, a profit over people model has wreaked havoc on VRS interpreters’ working conditions and the vital service they provide to millions of Deaf Americans every day,” Turner stated. He assured that OPEIU would persist in its efforts until justice is achieved for these workers and commended congressional members for their support.
Claude Cummings Jr., president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), voiced concerns regarding the potential effects of poor working conditions and insufficient wages on VRS quality, especially after Teleperformance’s acquisition of ZP Better Together. “VRS interpreters provide critical services to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, and public funds should be used to invest in the workers who provide the service, not to boost corporate profits,” Cummings noted. He also sees the implementation of UNI’s workers’ rights framework as a way for Teleperformance to enhance service standards.
In a related development, Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) prompted FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez to engage in upcoming town halls to interact with ASL interpreters and the communities they serve. This marks the first time an FCC commissioner will host public discussions on this topic.
OPEIU’s ASL Interpreters United comprises VRS interpreters at Sorenson and ZP Better Together. Sorenson is held by private equity firms Ariel Investments and The Blackstone Group, while ZP Better Together is owned by the French telecom company Teleperformance.
