Health workers are frustrated over talks

Molly Ball

Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 | 8:46 a.m.

Workers for the Clark County Health District again expressed frustration to the county Health Board on Thursday, saying their union's contract negotiations have stalled, which is distracting them from their work.

"We would like to be focusing our energy on how to prevent the next outbreak, or in my case how to stop the next criminal illegal dumper," Synthia Metzger, an environmental health specialist, told the board.

The workers have been without a contract for two months and have protested at several health board meetings with petitions, testimony and letters. The union representing them, the Service Employees International Union, accuses the Health District's negotiators of being unfair and disrespectful.

The health board has yet to hold any public discussion on the subject or respond to the workers during its meetings.

The Health District stands behind its contract proposals and has been issuing bulletins to employees to "try to correct some misconceptions," Chief Health Officer Dr. Donald Kwalick said in an interview.

He said the union was "using intimidation" to push its proposals.

The union and management blame each other for the stalled talks. The union says Health District negotiators have ignored its proposals; the management says it is the union that has refused to budge.

The union claims to represent 80 percent of the Health District's 450 employees, who include public health nurses, environmental workers and clerks.

Negotiations began in mid-May for a new contract to replace the one that expired June 30.