Teamsters focus on schools’ staff

Terry Webster

Friday, Oct. 26, 2001 | 9:43 a.m.

Teamsters union officials, who are attempting to organize teachers in the Clark County School District, are turning their attention toward support staff workers.

"These people came to us and asked us for help," Gary Mauger, chief executive officer of Teamsters Local No. 14, told the Sun. "We did not go to them."

About 75 Teamster members and support staffers rallied during Thursday's school board meeting.

Mauger, who addressed the board, said the union is "developing an infrastructure" with teachers.

"I want to let you know that you have some severe problems in the district with support staff and teachers ... A happy employee is a productive employee, and you just don't have that," he said.

Bobby Mancuso, president of the Education Support Employees Association, said that the statement does not represent the majority opinion.

When news of the Teamsters' interest in teachers came up earlier this week, John Jasonek, executive director of the Clark County Education Association, said he had not heard of a strong interest among teachers.

And he questioned whether Teamsters would fully understand the issues facing educators.

One board member suggested that in light of the 15,000 people in Clark County recently laid off in the wake of a nationwide economic downturn, school district employees should feel lucky to have a job. Although a hiring freeze is in place, the district has not laid off any staff, officials said.

But some support staff workers maintain they are unhappy.

"We're sick of the district going up to the Legislature every year and coming home empty-handed," Barb Connolly, a support staff worker, said.

Others are unhappy with the new insurance plan or mounting unpaid bills left from the old one.

An arbitrator gave the district control of the defunct support employees' health trust fund in September. The district's support employees are now covered under a plan operated by Sierra Health and Life.

Mark Ralston, a plumber for the district, said he now has to spend $2,500 to "get his teeth fixed."

The needed dental work, he said, is not covered by the new insurance plan.

Bernice Ealey, a head custodian, said rising costs for health insurance and utility bills cancel out any small raises employees receive.

Other workers said unpaid medical debts may force them to declare bankruptcy.

On another matter, administrators denied rumors that a new contract for support workers would be bargained for during a closed-door session Thursday.

The move would, in effect, block Teamsters from drumming up employee support. It has until Nov. 30 to collect signature cards from employees.

Officials said a new contract could not be ratified because it was not listed on the board's agenda.

The Education Support Employees Association is currently in contract negotiations with the district. Its most recent contract expired in July.

An item that regularly appears on board agendas allows for closed-session negotiations with employee groups.

After collecting employee signatures, the union would still have to conduct a hearing with the Employee Relations Management Board and possibly call for a vote of the support staff workers before it could represent them.