Supreme Court rules for an election in Teamsters fight

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005 | 8:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A four-year battle by Teamsters Local 14 to represent more than 10,000 support staff members in the Clark County School District is apparently going to an election.

The Nevada Supreme Court in a 3-0 vote has upheld a ruling by the state Local Government Employees-Management Relations Board that ordered an election in 2003. But the case has been tied up in court since them.

For more than 30 years the Educational Support Employees Association has been the bargaining agent for the support staff in Clark County. But the Teamsters Union convinced the state board it had more than 4,000 signatures, enough to require an election.

Gary Mauger, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 14, said Friday that attorneys for both sides would get together to set the ground rules for any election.

Mauger called the court's decision "good news" but added, "We didn't get everything we wanted."

To win the right to represent the workers, either side must get a majority of the total employees in the bargaining unit, rather than just 50 percent plus one of those who cast votes. Mauger said that would be difficult to obtain.

Douglas R. McCain, president of the Educational Support Employees Association, could not be reached for comment.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Dianna Hegeduis, who represented the state board, said the decision by the court backed the board on every facet. The law was clear and unambiguous, she said.

Hegeduis said Friday that in the election the two organizations would be pitted against each other and there would be a "None of the Above" on the ballot.

That will make it difficult for either the union or the association to gain a majority of the more than 10,000 employees.

Cy Ryan can be reached at (775) 687-5032 or at cy@lasvegassun.com.