On a quick break between calls, Kathleen’s coworker asked her where she could learn more about unionization efforts at their company. Check Instagram, she replied. Kathleen’s manager quickly came over to reprimand her; two days later, she was fired.

Workplace crackdowns on union activity are a familiar story; most go unchecked. But Kathleen’s employer has drawn fire repeatedly from members of Congress.

Kathleen worked for ZP Better Together, one of the two major American video relay service providers. Together with Sorenson Communications—owned by private equity—they provide most video relay services for Deaf people making phone calls in the United States. ZP Better Together was private equity–owned until its 2025 acquisition by France’s Teleperformance SE, a public corporation that has acquired multiple other private equity–owned firms.

ZP Better Together and Sorenson are in the midst of a unionization effort for ASL interpreters; workers at both companies have alleged efforts to stop the union drive. (ZP has also been under fire for allegedly subjecting Colombian workers to a traumatic work environment.)

“I was fired for misuse of company time, misuse of company technology, misuse of company resources and solicitation,” Kathleen told me. She had been with the company since July........

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