State workers again seek bargaining right

Monday, June 8, 1998 | 10:23 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A union that represents about 4,500 state workers will ask the 1999 Legislature for a 6.4 percent pay raise, plus other benefits.

The Nevada Employees Association has revealed its legislative program, which was adopted by the board of directors.

The top priority is a law to allow state workers to bargain collectively for wages and benefits. All local government workers and schoolteachers have that ability now. State workers, however, have been unsuccessful in their attempt to gain passage of such a law for at least 10 years.

The 1997 Legislature authorized a 3 percent pay raise last year and another 3 percent increase this year. But the association said this did not make up for recent years when workers did not get any pay hike while the cost of living increased.

The plan calls for a 6.4 percent increase in July 1999, plus a potential 6.4 percent in 2000. If adopted, the association said this would assure all current employees would make up for their losses in past years.

In addition, the association recommended additional pay raises for prison correctional officers. This group is paid as much as 35 percent below similar employees in local governments, and state correctional officers have one of the highest turnover rates in state government.

There also would be extra pay for those working at the Ely State Prison and those who must commute to the Southern Nevada Correctional Center at Jean and the Southern Desert Correctional Center at Indian Springs.

The association, in its third highest priority, called for overhauling the structure of the state system that runs the employees medical insurance. At present, the state Committee on Benefits hires a private firm to process and pay the claims from doctors, hospitals and other medical personnel.

That process has been involved in controversy and one company was fired after it did not make payments promptly to medical providers. The system remains behind in its payments.

The association wants the state to hire its own staff rather than enlisting a private firm.