European Union interpreters have gone on strike over work-from-home rules because poor sound quality and technical problems have made it impossible for EP members to speak remotely during hearings.
The interpreters are angry that the European Parliament has adopted new rules on “hybrid conferences” after the Covid pandemic, reports the Politico Europe website.
They have warned that they will strike unless there is a revision of rules that allow speakers to address hearings online.
There was further anger when parliament on Monday outsourced interpreting to an external provider – the day the strike would begin.
The International Association of Conference Interpreters called on parliament to “stop outsourcing” and demanded better working conditions for remote interpreters.
The EU institutions have 800 interpreters on permanent contracts and 3,200 freelancers who provide direct translation of events. The European Commission provides interpreting for up to 50 meetings per day.
There are 24 official languages in the EU, and interpreting is regularly provided in at least some of them for committee hearings and press conferences, with all 24 covered at flagship events.
The pandemic made interpreters’ work extremely difficult. Rather than seeing speakers in person, they were forced to use an application because many meetings were virtually held. The number of meetings – and consequently work for freelance interpreters – has been dramatically reduced.
This is not the first time that interpreters have gone on strike. In 2018, they downgraded tools as the European Parliament moved to increase the maximum time spent in interpreting booths from six hours to eight.
Interpretation is essential in Brussels, but the work is demanding and stressful. In March, an interpreter burst into tears while translating an emotional speech by Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, to the European Parliament.