Court interpreters offered olive branch over booking system woes
The language services company contracted to provide courtroom services offered an olive branch to interpreters this week after receiving a long list of grievances over its new booking system.
The Gazette revealed last month that interpreters informed thebigword that problems with the new booking system were making their lives difficult.
On Monday, interpreters were able to meet representatives from the company in central London to discuss the matter. The company offered individuals 15-minute slots. However, outside the venue, several interpreters held a vigil, telling the Gazette that they have long been unhappy about pay, terms and conditions, and that the booking system issues were the ‘last straw’.
‘The experience has been extremely negative for all of us, but the positive is it has brought us altogether,’ one interpreter said.
The Gazette understands terms and conditions, and pay rates, were raised during the appointments.
A company spokesperson said: ‘The overwhelming majority of our linguists are using the new app without any issues whatsoever. This event was simply to offer technical support in a user-friendly way for a small number of linguists who requested it. All payments have been made on time where our linguists have submitted invoices correctly in line with the usual procedures, and this will continue to be the case.’
While thebigword tries to address grievances over its new booking system, it also emerged last month that the company may also have to deal with a potential group claim over employment rights.