State workers seek pay raises, more benefits

Monday, May 15, 2000 | 11:19 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The largest union of state workers is going to ask the 2001 Legislature for cost-of-living and special pay raises, bonuses and earlier retirement.

The board of directors of the State of Nevada Employees Association revealed today its legislative program, which calls for a 5 percent cost-of- living raise in July 2001, followed by a 3 percent raise in July 2002.

The board, which met Saturday, is asking for a $20 per month "retention bonus" for every month worked in the past 10 years. And it is asking that state employees with 20 years of service be allowed to retire at 55.

"We will seek a bonus in an effort to recover some of what we have lost over the last 10 years, but to make a real impact, we must have pay equity and decent cost-of-living increases," association President Sam Covelli said.

The association represents about 4,400 of the 15,000 state workers.

State workers did not receive a pay raise in 1999 but will receive 2 percent in July. Bob Gagnier, director of the association, said a survey by the state Personnel Department found state workers were 17 percent behind the Nevada marketplace last year.

The workers received a 3 percent cost-of-living raise in 1997 and 1998. There were 5 percent raises in 1995 and 3 percent in 1996. But there were no increases from 1992 to 1994.

Each 1 percent pay raise for state workers costs about $6 million.

In addition to cost-of-living raises and bonuses, the association is asking for special increases for jobs where there is a high turnover and difficulty in recruitment. They include prison correctional officers, engineers and technicians, licensed medical personnel and data processing workers.

They also want an increase of longevity pay, which kicks in after eight years, from $150 a year to $300 and an increase of $25 a year for each year after eight. The association called for a special flexible account for all classified employees of $250 per year to be used to pay for parking, license fees or additional insurance.

The organization wants to increase the annual leave earned for employees with 20 years or more of service from 21 days to 24 days. And a person would be able to accumulate 40 days annual leave, instead of the present 30 without losing it.

The legislative plan calls for a matching contribution by the state of up to $50 per month for workers who participate in the deferred compensation program.

The association is also requesting the right to bargain collectively with the state for wages and working conditions. It is the only employee group in the state without the right. The plan has always failed to gain passage in the Legislature.

The package also calls for increased stand-by pay, higher payments for submitting suggestions to the Merit Award Board and improved insurance coverage.

"The need for this program is real," said Covelli, a correctional sergeant at the Southern Nevada Correctional Center at Jean. "We have been left behind for the past 10 years. It will not be cheap to catch up economically. But there are other needs as well as pay."

The association said it would be meeting with the administration of Gov. Kenny Guinn to discuss the details. Guinn has said one of his priorities will be pay raises for the state workers, but he hasn't set a figure.

Cy Ryan covers state government for the Sun. He can be reached at (775) 687-5032.