CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will bring their fight for better working conditions within the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry – a critical, legally mandated service that allows Deaf people to communicate with the hearing world – to Chicago on Aug. 8. ASL interpreters, who are unionizing with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, will be conducting an informational picket outside the headquarters of Ariel Investments, majority owner of Sorenson Communications, one of the largest providers of VRS service in the United States.
Interview opportunities are available. Please contact us if you would like to speak with these interpreters to hear their personal stories and learn about the impact their working conditions have on the quality of VRS services for Deaf users.
“I’ve been an ASL interpreter for more than 20 years, 8 of which have been VRS interpreting with Sorenson,” said Krista Romanish. “I’ve been in physical therapy because of the repetitive strain on my wrists, had to take leave because of the mental exhaustion and abuse, and counseled newer interpreters on best practices to actually stay in VRS because good interpreters keep burning out — all because I know this is an essential service. The Deaf community deserves better, but the only way for VRS to improve is by bringing interpreters to the negotiation table. It’s time Ariel and Sorenson meet with their workers.”
“It is time for Ariel Investments and Sorenson Communications to live up to their publicly stated values by meeting with their interpreters who are organizing to address burn out,” said Lisa Blake, an OPEIU vice president who will join the informational picket. “Sorenson VRS interpreters deserve a voice and seat at the table on decisions affecting them and the VRS users in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community who rely on their services.”
WHO: American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters who are unionizing with the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO to improve working conditions in the VRS industry.
WHAT: Interpreters will be in Chicago conducting an informational picket outside the headquarters of Ariel Investments, majority owner of Sorenson Communications, to highlight issues they face every day at work. Although several interpreters were fired from their previous interpreting job for union organizing, they remain steadfastly committed to improving the VRS industry for interpreters and users alike.
WHERE: Ariel Investments Headquarters
200 E. Randolph Street
Suite 2900
Chicago, Illinois 60601
WHEN: Aug. 8, 2025
12:30-2 pm CT
WHY: These interpreters work for foreign-owned Teleperformance and private equity-backed Sorenson Communications, the two largest providers of VRS in the United States. Teleperformance has agreed to labor protections for workers outside the U.S., but has refused to meet with U.S.-based interpreters. Under current conditions, interpreters are overworked and burnt out. Few can make a living as an interpreter due to the unsustainable workload, which is impacting service quality for Deaf users who rely on VRS to communicate with the world around them.
About ASL Interpreters Union/OPEIU
The ASL Interpreters Union (ASLIU)/OPEIU is organizing thousands of Video Relay Service (VRS) interpreters at the two largest providers of VRS, private equity-backed Sorenson Communications and Teleperformance-owned ZP Better Together, to improve interpreter working conditions and service quality for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing VRS users. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing VRS users are an integral part of the ASLIU’s unprecedented efforts to improve both services for millions of VRS users and working conditions for VRS interpreters across the country. The ASL Interpreters Union is affiliated with OPEIU.