COUNTY GOVERNMENT:

Union concessions split county commission, firefighters

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009 | 4:41 p.m.

Steve Sisolak

For refusing on givebacks now, will fire union be sorry later? (7-15-2009)
Fire service could suffer from latest cuts (6-28-2009)
Pay vs. jobs (6-26-2009)
Firefighters have perks to give back, if they wanted to (4-29-2009)
Shortfall looms large as fire union holds out (4-23-2009)
It pays EMTs to do I's and cross T's (4-22-2009)
No concessions yet from firefighters (4-12-2009)

Having been swamped with angry e-mails and phone calls from firefighters, Commissioner Steve Sisolak took an unusual step during the Clark County Commission meeting Tuesday afternoon. Just before the commission was to go into closed session to discuss what Sisolak believes are “non-concessions” offered by the firefighter’s union, he asked to hold the meeting in public.

“I’ve been getting beaten up because I don’t think people in the public know what has been suggested and I want to make it clear,” Sisolak said.

The county has sought concessions from its public employee unions because of a deficit resulting from low property tax revenues and legislative action that took $180 million in operational and capital funds over the next two years.

With concessions from other unions, such as police and service employees, the county has already saved about $20 million.

From the firefighters, county administrators and Sisolak say they haven’t seen any concessions. The union’s 700 firefighters reportedly approved a deal in which they would give up 1 percent of a 3 percent raise, but then would get two “professional days” extra per year in exchange.

The union also offered to give up the construction of $4 million in security fencing, but the county said that is no concession because the fencing money is specially designated for fire department projects. If not spent for the fence, it would stay with the fire department and could not be spent on other needy county departments.

The county also said the 1 percent concession, which amounts to savings of about $1.2 million, is no concession as well, because the professional days off cancel out any savings from the 1 percent decrease.

So commissioners talked about what they wanted from the union.

“No extra days off,” Sisolak said.

They also said the $4 million is off the table, agreeing that it is not a concession.

Now Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani will take that directive -- no professional days and the fence isn't a concession -- back to the firefighter’s union President Ryan Beaman.

If the firefighters don't change their offer, the commissioners agreed it could make negotiations for a new contract tougher when the two sides convene talks in February.

Sisolak said he wanted the meeting in the open to make clear to the public what has been offered. He said he has gotten threats from people who have told him that he “better hope my house doesn’t catch fire,” and from people who say they are firefighters but they are now embarrassed to wear their uniforms in public because the union hasn’t agreed to any concessions.

Discussion: 18 comments so far…

By bdover

8/4/09 at 5:06 p.m.

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Why do we put these barely high school grads, or GED types, on such a pedestal? Is it the military mentality that loves stupid wars, like Korea, Vietnam and Iraq and Afghanistan? Or is it a deeply hidden fear that if we don't over pay firemen, they won't fight fires? Good God, they're just average slobs who found the gravy train. Time to take them down...
By UNLVGrad

8/4/09 at 5:15 p.m.

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Why is Sisolak the only one with the guts to stand up to these thugs? The public deserves to know what is going on. It is our money. I hope the rest of the County Commission gets the guts to stand up behind him and "Just say NO to the Firefighters"
By LasVegas2009

8/4/09 at 5:58 p.m.

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Cut the pay 20% across the board and see who quits. These guys are on the gravy train and none will leave. If 20% is not enough come back in 6 months and cut another 10%-20% until the budget is balanced. Every tax payer in Las Vegas has taken a hit in salary why do these guys think they are not in a recession? Cuts have to be made and thats that. $100,000 a year! Pay 'em $45,000 and see if any quit! If they do hire some of the unemployed to fill those jobs at $45,000 a year. It is easy to fix this someone just needs the balls to do it. We taxpayers are getting taken to the cleaners by these elite overpaid firefighters.
By exasperated

8/4/09 at 7:04 p.m.

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Way to go Commissioner Sisolak!!

Don't let the firefighters bully you. We're paying these "professionals" way too much money as it is. I wonder if they were emailing and telephoning their threats and intimidations while on duty? Probably.

Their union plays dirty and they wield too much power and influence in this town. Enough already. Las Vegans are going under right and left and these people won't concede a dime? Some heroes.
By CynicalObserver

8/4/09 at 7:29 p.m.

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Good for you Steve Sisolak. There should be nothing about the people's business which is discussed in closed session, except for litigation strategy.

As to the threats Steve Sisolak received, he did the absolute right thing. When anyone threatens you, tell ten or twenty people. Tell the cops.

If you know the names of the people who threatened you, or the names of the people you believe they are working for, send then a letter confirming the details of the threats. Always send a cc of the threat confirming letter to both newspapers.

If John Ensign had been smart enough to immediately expose the threats he had been receiving from his employee and mistress, Ensign and his parents would not be in most of the trouble they have now.
By billykydd

8/4/09 at 7:41 p.m.

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Las Vegas 2009. Las Vegas Fire fighters earn $100,000 a year? I know a firefighter in NYC who doesn't earn any where near that.Please enlighten me where you got these figures, I would like to send them to the NYC ladder company.
By getalife

8/4/09 at 8:09 p.m.

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billy, they are making a killing in OT
By OG

8/4/09 at 8:10 p.m.

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Steve Sisolak deserves a ticker-tape parade for his courage. Standing up to these union bullies takes heart, and he clearly has it.

In fact, he has so much courage...I'd encourage him to run for public office and help clean up the corruption not just in the public employee service union, but statewide as well.

Honestly, everyone is tightening their belt, including OTHER public service unions, except for these cry babies.
By getalife

8/4/09 at 8:43 p.m.

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I think it took a tremendous amount of courage for Mr. Sisolak to hold this meeting in public where the firefighters would be seen for what they are.

Overpaid misfits.

I know two retired firemen who are dumping their FF plates because of this charade.

Mr. Beamon must be so proud. Perception is reality and he is perceived as a greedy dolt.
By slots

8/4/09 at 8:58 p.m.

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well said exasperated (and others).
By afveteran

8/4/09 at 9:11 p.m.

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Never....never....never...ever..begrudge a working man for making a wage for himself and his family..whether it's 100K a year or 10K a year.
By shrek

8/4/09 at 11:45 p.m.

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We should be allowed as citizens to vote to turn our system to ALL Volunteer Firefighters. Or at the very least, set the pay like the policemans & school teachers. ** 8 hrs work then you go home ** No more getting paid to sleep, eat & work out on the taxpayers dime.

Las Vegans don't get to go to the gym on company time, or sleep on company time. WTF?? Ohw!

If the poor crybaby firefighters don't like it, let them join the rest of the un-employed. I'd take their job for $36,000 per year and the gold-plated county benefits and retirement pay.

EVERY single Clark County Worker makes so much more than their counter-parts in private industry anyways.

87% of the Cabins up in southern Utah on Cedar Mountain are owned by the Clark County firemen and their co-workers at Clark County. Where do they find the money and time to enjoy it? Oh yea, they work for Clark County, DUH!

Wish the average Las Vegan taxpayer could afford that luxury.
By tennis_ace_2000

8/5/09 at 8:05 a.m.

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TRANSPARENTNEVADA.COM lists salary and overtime paid to Clark County firemen.
By scottyurb

8/5/09 at 9:06 a.m.

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Jealous Nevadans,
Please stop your whining over the firefighter's. You make me sick!! If you would have never conceded in making this a right to work state where Jose makes more cash and stays employed despite his illegal immigrant status maybe you'd also have a job that pays two nickels and you wouldn't be crying about a group of professional's who joined a union for protection against repuklican thuggery that will come out and save your sorry butts when your in need!!
By v2snow

8/5/09 at 11:46 a.m.

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you know mesa,az went thru the samething.the union firemen where getting greedy.so they contracted out there fire service.you know a highway patrolmans job is alot more dangerous than a firemans.and why the hell do they take a firetruck to shop when they can take there food to work like everyone else.i sick and tired of clark county fireman.get a real job you over payed bums.ever notice how many of them are living in utah?the taliban is not the enemy the enemy is clark county fireman.
By BONUSFLYBOY

8/5/09 at 1:26 p.m.

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Lazy fat cat's. Who would not work for half the money they make. Las Vegas is the highest paid fire department's in the nation. Get over your self's. Window stickers, license plates , t-shirts...I want to go work out at golds gym while on duity too. If you are not married to a fireman than you must be in the church.
By getalife

8/5/09 at 1:30 p.m.

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scotty, the county commission is predominately democrat. Sorry for the disturbing news.
By oldladyplayspiano

8/5/09 at 5:46 p.m.

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Las Vegas 2009 has it right. Some of them earn way more than $100,000/year because of the over-time hours afforded them.

When you figure what a military person is paid and is on the front lines in a war thousands of miles from home; day in and day out, and the fire-fighters I know, spend 2 or 3 days washing and polishing their trucks; shopping at Sam's Club for 'goodies', and make a few runs when there's a car accident (as back-up in case the cars catch on fire, I guess) - rarely fighting the kinds of fires that we see in California where they actually do spend endless hours, putting out thousands of burning acres, then we've got something really wrong with this kind of pay scale for this little responsibility and work.

In the Laughlin area, 70% of the allocation is burdened to the fire department costs - now that's absurd!!!!

Doctors and nurses who put in years of education and spend thousands on getting that education, often don't make this kind of money - let's get real!