Metro’s rank-and-file to decide which union will represent them

Keith Paul

Friday, April 13, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

A Nevada labor-relations board Thursday ordered an election to decide which union would have the right to represent Metro Police's rank-and-file officers.

The three-member Local Government Employee Management Relations Board ordered a vote by Metro corrections and police officers to decide if the current union, the Police Protective Association, or a newly formed union, the Las Vegas Law Enforcement Association, will represent them.

The election will occur within 30 days. The board will meet with representatives from the two unions to determine election guidelines within seven days, said Shari Thomas, commissioner for the three-member board.

The board's decision is the culmination of a union power struggle that began in April 2000, when some PPA board members tried to vote PPA Executive Director Andy Anderson out of office. When their attempt failed, Anderson removed Vice President Dan Holley and PPA board member Sgt. Toby Maldonado, both his appointees who tried to oust him.

Holley and other PPA board members who voted against Anderson cited concerns over the health insurance plan, including alleging the union was overpaying for the administration of the $17 million-a-year program.

A few PPA board members quit and formed the LVLEA. They started to collect signatures on a petition to decertify the PPA and create the new union. The relations board hearing came after the LVLEA was able to get a majority of officers to sign the petition.

Anderson said the PPA was preparing to fight to remain as the officers' union; he resigned in March and said he hoped it would help save the union.

The labor relations board heard a full day of testimony from both unions Wednesday and made its decision Thursday.

Officer John Yacek, a PPA board member who resigned after the failed attempt to remove Anderson and helped form the new union, said he was pleased by the decision.

"We are looking forward to the vote," he said.

PPA attorney John Dean Harper said the PPA might consider appealing the ruling for an election.

"We feel they made an incorrect decision," Harper said. "However, we are preparing for the election and are confident the members will vote for the union that has been around for 50 years."