For refusing on givebacks now, will fire union be sorry later?

By Joe Schoenmann

Wednesday, July 15, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The popular image of brave firefighters running into burning buildings, saving people trapped in wrecked vehicles and rescuing cats in trees has helped their union win enviable salaries and benefits.

But experts and local officials say that image could take a hit this week as Clark County firefighters are expected to, in effect, reject the county’s request for wage concessions amid near-record budget shortfalls.

It’s a move that some say could work against the long-term aims of firefighters — who will enter talks with the county for a new contract next year — by weakening support from the public, which pays their salaries, and the elected officials who covet their political endorsements.

“They are negotiating for public taxpayer money, so they, more than most unions ... are walking a fine line trying to get what they think they’re worth,” said Phil Dine, author of the book “State of the Unions,” which has been described as a playbook for an organized labor comeback.

Another labor expert and consultant, who asked not to be identified, said: “I don’t think firefighters are untouchable anymore. I’ve seen these battles flaring up all over the country and there is a lot of resentment against firefighters right now.”

To address its shortfall, Clark County asked departments to cut 5 percent from their budgets over the next two years.

The firefighters’ response so far has been to criticize county spending and propose a fire department capital project be postponed. County officials say the firefighters’ proposal would not yield any useful savings.

Union members are expected to vote on the matter this week.

Firefighters union President Ryan Beaman did not respond to a request for comment.

Meanwhile, other county-funded employees have agreed to salary concessions. Service employees have agreed to cut their wage increases from 3 percent to 1 percent; and police negotiated a one-year deal calling for no wage increases.

County Commissioner Steve Sisolak said he has been flooded with calls and e-mails from constituents who are angry that firefighters have not given up a portion of their raises or benefits to help the county balance its budget.

“They have an incredible reputation, sure,” Sisolak said of firefighters. “But at the same time I’ve got an abundance of constituents who voice to me on a regular basis that they are disappointed that the firefighters have not given any concessions.”

But Jamie Horowitz, a Washington, D.C.-based union consultant, said firefighters have good reason to stand their ground on wage concessions. In the past unions have given ground only to see, once the economy and budgets recovered, that they were never made whole.

“I think unions see very little reason to believe that if you help out, then people will play fair and balance the score when there’s a recovery,” he said.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, who has long supported firefighters and their contracts amid criticism, said she does not think anything the union does this week will hurt it during next year’s contract negotiations. She noted that several county commissioners will be up for reelection in 2010 and will likely be looking for endorsements and support from the union.

Giunchigliani and Commissioners Susan Brager and Lawrence Weekly will likely be running for reelection and Commission Chairman Rory Reid is expected to be running for governor.

“It will be a different day ... and we’ll start fresh,” Giunchigliani said. “You’re going to have people running for office, so you’ll have people saying ‘I don’t want this brought up,’ or ‘Let’s hold off on this.’ ”

Indeed, Clark County firefighters have been known to walk door-to-door on behalf of candidates and donate to campaigns.

A Nevada union administrator, who asked not to be identified, said firefighters don’t walk neighborhoods on behalf of candidates much anymore, but “the memory of them doing that remains.”

“Which is to say, they have a good image and you want them on your side,” he said. “It’s why people get all obsessed with having the police and the firefighter endorsements. They always poll very high in terms of popularity.”

But Brager said she expects her position on next year’s contract will largely hinge on what happens now.

“How would I vote if the union does not budge?” she said. “I’m going to think long and hard about that and hope it does not come to that. It sickened and saddened me that we’re cutting social services for our seniors and youth. I’m just hoping that firefighters know we have been there for them, we will continue to look out for their safety ... but everybody needs to chip in.”

In a letter to county administrators, Beaman wrote that the county’s budget problems were fiction and that enough cuts could be made so that employees would not have to suffer. He offered a deal that the county said was no deal at all — it included an offer to give up $4.3 million in security fencing around fire stations.

The county said the $4.3 million is legally targeted for fire department capital projects; saving it doesn’t help any other county department.

Sisolak, who wrote a letter to the union last month telling leaders to keep their concession offer because it would do the county no good, said firefighters’ popularity shouldn’t sway the elected officials who must approve their contract.

“I won’t make policy decisions based on an endorsement,” he said. “You have to base votes on what’s right. So some people get an endorsement, so what?”