iblv editorial:

Ill-timed stubbornness

Firefighters’ refusal to budge on raises is selfish, unfair to county

Fri, Jul 3, 2009 (3 a.m.)

With the economy in a tailspin, times remain tough in Las Vegas. Many people are either losing their jobs or have had to accept reductions in benefits.

Toss into the mix skyrocketing home foreclosure rates and extremely tight credit and it is easy to argue that most Southern Nevadans are either making economic sacrifices or know someone who is doing so. Local governments, likewise, are being forced to make budget cuts because of shrinking tax revenue.

Clark County firefighters, though, appear to be blind to reality.

As reported last week by Joe Schoenmann in the Las Vegas Sun, a sister publication of In Business Las Vegas, the firefighters’ refusal to give up 3 percent cost-of-living raises that were scheduled to take effect this week likely will lead to job cuts in the fire department.

The union that represents the county’s 700 firefighters indicated it would settle on a 2 percent raise as long as it came with increased vacation time. The union said it would agree to give up $4 million earmarked for fire station security fencing.

But the county could wind up spending more to cover the added vacation than it would save through a 1 percent reduction in the pay increase. Clark County Commissioner Steve Sisolak told the Sun the money for the security fencing cannot be given to the county’s general fund to offset other budget losses because it can only be used for fire department construction projects.

Because of the stubbornness of the firefighters and their union, the county is being forced into a corner. County departments are being asked to make further sacrifices, which could translate to as much as $7 million in cuts for the fire department. Sisolak said those cuts could force the department to eliminate some fire prevention and support staff positions.

The time has come for the union to step up to the table and sacrifice the 3 percent raise. Anything less than that represents a disingenuous offer that doesn’t help the county address its budget woes.

Discussion: 1 comment so far…

By lydiaphilpot

7/8/09 at 10:24 p.m.

Suggest removal

Check out http://obamamortgage2009.blogspot.com or obamamortgage2009.blogspot.com There needs to be a program for the elderly but not quite to retirement age for mortgage modification when the have lost their job during this particular recession. I made a decent wage because I put my time into a company and now have no job. I am looking at $10 - to $12 hr jobs after working all my life. You can't make a mortgage payment on that kind of money. I will eventually lose my home.