We are writing as a group of interpreters who have worked with Glasgow City Council over many years to express our collective concerns regarding the decision to outsource interpretation services to PLS. We all feel that this Transfer should be stopped at least for now and a review should take place to address our concerns. 

We as interpreters have been the voice of many people over the years and we take pride in that. People who have came in to a country that they don’t know the language nor anyone. We have been there for them to help them from their immigration matters to their housing needs. We have been there for their children’s education making sure parents know of their child’s progress.

Our work is immense, it’s important and really hard. We touch a lot of people’s lives in a positive manner and leaving a positive impact. 

Glasgow City Council’s Linguistic Services were established in the 1990s and began working extensively with asylum seekers and refugees from the year 2000 onward. These services have been built on decades of experience. They reflect Glasgow’s long-standing humanitarian values and its commitment to supporting those seeking safety and dignity.

In contrast, Premium Linguistic Services (PLS), a private company based in England, operates with profit as its main objective. Outsourcing to such a provider risks weakening the compassion, consistency, and quality of support provided to some of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

If the transfer of Linguistics to PLS was to go through, I think a lot of interpreters would leave this profession because of lack of work, lack of pay as well as uncertainty etc.

This will impact many of the clients that we provide our services to, from schools to hospitals and beyond. 

It’s time to act now before it’s too late. So please sign this petition to save our profession and our future. We worked endlessly and tirelessly to get where we are with Glasgow City Council and can’t let this happen. This is our only chance for them to hear our voices and concern.