Washington interpreters demand state address more than $280K in missed payments

Language interpreters for Washington state’s labor agency sued last year alleging they were owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in missed payments.

More than a year later, they say the issue still hasn’t been resolved.

When they filed suit, the interpreters for the state Department of Labor and Industries alleged they were owed more than 3,500 payments, ranging from $6 to $494, totaling $280,000, dating back to 2021. The unpaid work continues to “pile up” for language access providers, according to a spokesperson for their union, Interpreters United.

Specifically, these interpreters serve those injured while working for an employer that is self-insured and does not participate in Washington’s workers’ compensation system. Such companies must pay for medical services, including interpretation assistance, needed after workplace injuries.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/08/14/washington-interpreters-demand-state-address-more-than-280k-in-missed-payments/