23 Sep 2024
Protests planned outside Leicester court as interpreters strike
Court interpreters up and down the country have gone on strike to protest against working conditions. They claim that they have been dealing with “withheld” payments running into thousands of pounds per case, and have branded the terms and conditions of their contracts as “exploitative”.
The walkout began today (Monday, September 23) and are set to last throughout the week. Protests were also planned outside courts across the county, including at Leicester Crown Court, today.
The UK Government outsources the employment of interpreters to private company Thebigword. The company said its contracts were reviewed by “leading employment lawyers” who, it claimed, had said they were “entirely appropriate for self-employed freelancers”. A spokeswoman for Thebigword said it had a “great partnership” with its interpreters, and claimed there were “considerable benefits” of working with the company.
Among their accusations, the interpreters claim Thebigword takes a cut of the travel and accommodation expenses provided by the Government, and gives them one hour’s pay when full-day jobs are cancelled at the last minute. A spokesperson for the interpreters said: “These court interpreters are in no man’s land, failing to earn a sustainable income and they now face increasingly being forced out of the profession [as they cannot support themselves financially]”.
They have called on the Government to implement “a system, once and for all, in which interpreters can work in fair and sustainable conditions for the benefit of all parties involved in court proceedings, efficiency of government spending and ultimately for the entire British public”.
A spokeswoman for Thebigword said: “We are aware of a planned protest by a small group of interpreters out of the 5,000 interpreters who work with us. We have contingency plans to minimise any possible impact on the services provided to the courts.
“We have a great partnership with our interpreters, who overwhelmingly enjoy the working arrangements we have with them. There are considerable benefits which they appreciate and understand.
“We have an open dialogue with our people about any issues raised. Our contracts are reviewed by leading employment lawyers who confirm they are entirely appropriate for self-employed freelancers.”
A spokeswoman for His Majesty’s Court and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) said: “We are aware of some planned walkouts by interpreters at a small number of criminal courts. We have contingency measures in place to ensure the courts can remain open and disruption is minimal.”
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