Poll: Is there a union for translators in your country?
Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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Jul 9, 2018

This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Is there a union for translators in your country?".

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Ahmad Albesh
 
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida
Maria Teresa Borges de Almeida  Identity Verified
Portugal
Local time: 18:55
Member (2007)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Other Jul 9, 2018

As far as I know there is one union in Portugal (focused on tourist guides) and at least two translator’s professional associations (APTRAD and APT).

Maria do Rosário Quadros
Ahmad Albesh
 
Angus Stewart
Angus Stewart  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:55
Member (2011)
French to English
+ ...
I honestly don't know the answer because it is not relevant to me. Jul 9, 2018

I don't know whether there is a union for translators in the UK, because it is not something that it is relevant for me to know. My view is that trade unions are only relevant to translators who work in house in order to stand up for their rights in relation their employers. There are comparatively few in house roles outside the framework of the European institutions and as most translation work is outsourced, the majority of our profession (myself included) work on a self-employed basis where w... See more
I don't know whether there is a union for translators in the UK, because it is not something that it is relevant for me to know. My view is that trade unions are only relevant to translators who work in house in order to stand up for their rights in relation their employers. There are comparatively few in house roles outside the framework of the European institutions and as most translation work is outsourced, the majority of our profession (myself included) work on a self-employed basis where we have to stand up for our own rights in relation to our multiple clients with whom we have to deal on a one-on-one basis rather than en-masse through a (trade union) representative.Collapse


Hedwig Spitzer (X)
Ahmad Albesh
 
Muriel Vasconcellos
Muriel Vasconcellos  Identity Verified
United States
Local time: 11:55
Member (2003)
Spanish to English
+ ...
Yes Jul 9, 2018

We have the American Translators Association (ATA). I was a member for a number of years when I was a staff translator with an international organization. In fact, I recall that most of the members I knew had full-time jobs as translators or teachers. Or they were students, or else they weren't freelancing full time. When I started freelancing, I didn't have the time to fool around anymore.

I enjoyed getting to know the people, but I never gained a single client.

[Edited a
... See more
We have the American Translators Association (ATA). I was a member for a number of years when I was a staff translator with an international organization. In fact, I recall that most of the members I knew had full-time jobs as translators or teachers. Or they were students, or else they weren't freelancing full time. When I started freelancing, I didn't have the time to fool around anymore.

I enjoyed getting to know the people, but I never gained a single client.

[Edited at 2018-07-09 10:45 GMT]
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Ahmad Albesh
 
Maxi Schwarz
Maxi Schwarz  Identity Verified
Local time: 13:55
German to English
+ ...
unions for self-employment? Jul 9, 2018

A lot of us work freelance. That means we quote our own fees, set our own work hours, quote the time frame within a project that we choose to accept can be done etc. I don't know whether there are unions for in-house translators. We do have professional organizations, but those are in charge of things like standard. I belong on the ATIO in Canada which is the provincial body, while the CTTIC is the national organization.

 
neilmac
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 19:55
Spanish to English
+ ...
Other Jul 9, 2018

Not as far as I know. There are associations, for example my local one is the Xarxa, which defines itself as "a community of translators and professional interpreters (http://www.xarxativ.es/), but I don't think there is anything resembling a trade union, at least not as I understand the term.

Hedwig Spitzer (X)
Natalia Pedrosa
 
Anastasia Kingsley Kinkusic
Anastasia Kingsley Kinkusic  Identity Verified
Member (2011)
Croatian to English
+ ...
Croatian Translators Jul 9, 2018

To the best of my knowledge, no union but several associations. Till recently there existed only three in the capital city of Zagreb, now a new association has formed in 2013 in Split, Croatia’s “second city”. Last year, this organization (called STiP) opened a branch in Rijeka. This organization is quite innovative with seminars held free of charge through the year to its members and with interesting and relevant topics. I prefer the smaller approach because it’s still functional and ma... See more
To the best of my knowledge, no union but several associations. Till recently there existed only three in the capital city of Zagreb, now a new association has formed in 2013 in Split, Croatia’s “second city”. Last year, this organization (called STiP) opened a branch in Rijeka. This organization is quite innovative with seminars held free of charge through the year to its members and with interesting and relevant topics. I prefer the smaller approach because it’s still functional and manageable without any hint of beaurocracy or corruption.Collapse


Antonio Tomás Lessa do Amaral
 
Antonio Tomás Lessa do Amaral
Antonio Tomás Lessa do Amaral
English to Portuguese
+ ...
There are several associations Jul 9, 2018

Never joined any. This being Italy, they are basically for networking, and to try to make one’s message signature look impressive (Senior member of the XYZ association)

 
Debora d'Amato (X)
Debora d'Amato (X)  Identity Verified
Italy
Local time: 19:55
English to Italian
+ ...
AITI, Italy Jul 9, 2018

Here in Italy, there is AITI, Associazione Italiana Interpreti e Traduttori (Italian Association of Translators and Interpreters), founded in 1950.

I'm not a member yet since you need to make a test, a serious one, to join it. However, I think I'm going to try next years or, at least, one day!


 
Christine Andersen
Christine Andersen  Identity Verified
Denmark
Local time: 19:55
Member (2003)
Danish to English
+ ...
It depends what you mean by a union Jul 9, 2018

I am no longer a member of the Union of Communication and Language Professionals, Denmark, which is more than a trade union, but as I have passed pension age, I feel the subscription is a bit much compared with the benefits.
However, I have enjoyed its activities and training sessions, and could still if I wanted to. In Denmark many professional associations are Trade Unions as well, and they run unemployment benefit schemes for their members. They also carry on an active dialogue with the
... See more
I am no longer a member of the Union of Communication and Language Professionals, Denmark, which is more than a trade union, but as I have passed pension age, I feel the subscription is a bit much compared with the benefits.
However, I have enjoyed its activities and training sessions, and could still if I wanted to. In Denmark many professional associations are Trade Unions as well, and they run unemployment benefit schemes for their members. They also carry on an active dialogue with the government and universities on language policies and education in languages, which is important in a small country like Denmark.

I never managed to be state authorized, so did not qualify for the associations for Danish State Authorized Translators either. They are professional associations but not trade unions. I have also taken part in some of their training days and worked with members.

There are two institutes in the UK - the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIoL) and the Institute of Translator's and Interpreters (ITI). I am a member of the CIoL and a Chartered Linguist myself. They too run courses and activities, and campaign for the interests of self-employed translators.
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Mario Freitas
Mario Freitas  Identity Verified
Brazil
Local time: 15:55
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Yes, and I couldn't care less Jul 10, 2018

There is an official Union and several associations. I don't even get close to any of them. The exclusive purpose of these entities is to make money on the professionals' back. They will never catch me.

 


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Poll: Is there a union for translators in your country?






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