Don’t be a court interpreter in Winnipeg!
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I’ve been doing translation work and occasionally interpreting even before the internet was invented. Not to mention the blogs… And having done it in more countries on more continents I guess I am able to make a fair comparison regarding how much the interpreters (translators) are valued.
Take for example today. The Language Bank that provides interpreters/translators for different services in the city of Winnipeg, asked me to go to the Court Building (408 York Ave.) and help in a case as an interpreter. Just for the record: I did a lot and still do some unpaid volunteer work as interpreter or translator, and I am OK with that. To be honest, I am more than OK, since it is my decision to offer my knowledge, skills, talent for free. Just because it pleases me!
However, I feel embarrassed and humiliated when others decide that my work, knowledge, skills… are worth only pennies. In Winnipeg the Court pays an interpreter exactly $50 for a full day. No, it’s not a typo — this amount is not for an hour, it is for one day. And $25 for a half day. Which means if you are there from 9:00 am till 11:59 am = that’s a half day. It is also just a half day if you interpret from 12:01 pm till 5:00 pm… you got about five bucks per hour in this case. Honestly, rather than getting 5 dollars for an hour I prefer to volunteer!
In other provinces (including Saskatchewan, and I say this because whenever I complain about something, native Winnipeggers tend to “comfort” me with Look, it’s still better than in Saskatchewan…), just to have an idea what the terms of comparison are, a court interpreter gets $50/hour! That’s the official registered court interpreter. And low paid interpreter jobs are around $25/hour… The last time, before moving to Manitoba, a lawyer in Hamilton, Ontario offered me $32 for the first hour and $25 for the consecutive hours (if longer).
Well, I know, Manitoba is not a rich province, I hear it all the time. But what I experienced today is not related to wealth. The “client” was scheduled for 2:00 pm, therefore the interpreter is expected to show up around 1:30 for registering in this “witness assistance” office, where you get a form for the payment. Your name, accused’s name, time, language, and Crown Attorney’s name. This latter one has to sign it when we finished.
Confidentiality rules and legislation forbid to tell anything about the case (which is fine). Let’s say we were done, next court date communicated and translated… everybody’s free to go. Oops, I have a slip that must be signed by the Crown Attorney.
I politely approached her desk (for those interested I have her name, too!) and asked her to sign that piece of paper mentioned at the beginning.
“Just a moment, please, take a sit, sir”, she replied. Yes, sure, I can wait two minutes…
After about twenty(!) more minutes I approached her again: Please, I have another appointment, could you please sign the paper…
Please, sit down etc. Well, I didn’t sit down. Quietly but stubbornly stood next to her desk.
For another ten more minutes.
Yes, I could have left without the signature and consider it volunteering and call it a day. Yet, as I said above, I am a stubborn man and I don’t let even the Crown Attorney to force me to make decisions that are not mine. So, I was standing there at the end of her desk showing her the slip, which is on coloured paper so you can tell it from afar. And waited… The only reason I am not still there because a very kind young lawyer after realizing why I was there, when her turn came to talk to the judge - asked the Court to do something about that signature so that I could go.
The judge was nice, the young lawyer was nice, everybody was nice - except the very very rude and impolite Crown Attorney, who should learn some basic manners and people skills. Hey, Ma’am, considering what your “crown” pays me, I am helping you for free and, accordingly, you should be happy and grateful if I showed up. Furthermore, I strongly advise you to learn how to respect other people’s time and don’t overdo your own importance…
Which is exactly why I no longer work for “the authorities”. I don’t interpret in courts and I don’t translate personal documents for official purposes.
It’s not worth my time, and I don’t work for peanuts. As a trained, qualified and accredited translator and interpreter, I am no hobo who can be bought off with a pittance.
Those, of course, who are not trained and accredited can do as they please, but that’s what we have the grey and black markets of translation for.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on this. At least I can be sure I am not alone with my opinion!
You most certainly are not alone.
That is unreal. Here in Toronto, Court Interpreters get a minimum of $75.00 for 3 hours; even if they only work for 2 minutes (like set-date court). After that, it’s 25 dollars for every extra hour. I almost can’t believe they are paying you $50.00 for the whole day. Move to Ontario!
Being the trained and accredited professional that I am, I wouldn’t accept $25 an hour. I don’t even leave my home on an interpreting assignment unless I get a minimum of $250 (even if the assigment is just for 10 or 5 minutes).
Look at the hourly fees of other professions (accountants, lawyers, doctors, etc.) and tell me again if $25 an hour is appropriate for an interpreter or translator.
Werner, I fully agree with your decision (and fee)…
Or I will just leave it for others and not taking new assignments, at least not in WPG.
Hi Werner;
$25 is not appropriate, you are right. It is more than $50 a day; but you are correct - it is peanuts.
Are you in Ontario? I am wondering which companies are able to pay the rates you’ve quoted… or perhaps you’re working on conference interpreting. Either way I would be curious to find out.
Just click on his name here > About. You will find out where he is :)