Letter: Don’t blame union for city’s problems

Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006 | 12:32 p.m.

Regarding the Sun's Jan. 31 editorial, "Growing up is hard to do":

Teamsters Local Union 14 does not normally use the media regarding its ongoing negotiations with the city of North Las Vegas. However, I would like to set the record straight regarding the five-day work week issue. The only departments within the city that do not have five-day coverage are City Hall, Community Development Center and the Municipal Court. The rest of the city services have at least a five-, six- or seven-day schedule.

Approximately eight years ago, the city went to a five-day work week including the above noted areas with the employees working either Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday. The City Council in its wisdom determined that this was not productive and stopped it. In addition, City Hall used to be open starting at 7 a.m. and the citizens of North Las Vegas very much appreciated it. This was also stopped by the City Council.

This local union has tried to cooperate with the city of North Las Vegas as proven in the above noted areas, yet the city seems to want to go out of its way to blame the union for all its problems. It needs to start at the top and stop catering to special interests, such as developers. The morale of its city employees is at an all-time low.

The city is only as good as the people working for it, and they are working their butts off to make this community one of the finest in the country. Enthusiasm rubs off and so does negativity.

Gary D. Mauger

Las Vegas