Court decision could hurt union talks

Mathis Winkler

Monday, Oct. 29, 2001 | 9:39 a.m.

A jury verdict awarding almost $180,000 in lost wages to 16 North Las Vegas jail supervisors is likely to complicate negotiations for a new contract scheduled for spring 2002, a lawyer for the North Las Vegas police union said.

The detention center officers had sued the union over a 1999 contract that gave them lower salaries than their counterparts in the police department. The suit alleged that jail supervisors were getting treated unfairly because they received less money for "substantially the same work."

"I don't see how (police and jail supervisors) could physically work together" in contract negotiations, said John Harper, the union's lawyer, adding that he was "absolutely astounded" by the verdict.

"The union did not act in bad faith," he said, adding that he plans to challenge the amount of the awarded damages. He's also considering an appeal, he said.

"Corrections officers historically, nationally and locally are not paid what police officers are paid," Harper said. "These corrections officers better wake up."

The plaintiffs' lawyer, on the other hand, described the verdict as a landmark decision.

"I think it sends a message out to union and bargaining units that they can't ignore the interest of the minority," he said, adding that jails supervisors had not been part of the contract negotiations. Instead, police department supervisors, who outnumber their detention counterparts, led the bargaining sessions.

"I think the union is going to treat them a little differently" in the future, Mills said.

Thursday's jury verdict gives the plaintiffs the difference in wages between sergeants and lieutenants in the two departments. The 10 sergeants are to receive $10,000, and three lieutenants were awarded $18,600, with a fourth lieutenant getting a percentage of the amount because she left the department a few months after the contract became effective.

The plaintiffs are likely to seek a payment of attorney's fees from the union as well, Mills said. District Court Judge Gene Porter, who tried the case, will have to decide an award.