Will city take bite of fire union after nibbles at others?

By Sam Skolnik

Friday, May 8, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Months ago Mayor Oscar Goodman warned the four unions that represent city workers that future Las Vegas employees would have to accept smaller benefits packages than those currently enjoyed by workers. It is the only sure-fire way to rein in the significant budgetary shortfall — $150 million over the next five years — the city faces, Goodman said. Jobs were at stake, the mayor said.

So far the mayor’s rhetoric hasn’t been matched by results at the bargaining table.

The city won only modest scalebacks from the bargaining units for Las Vegas’ city employees, marshals and detention officers, most significantly a reduced cost-of-living wage increase. Not only were there no salary cuts, but their health care packages were left mostly (and in two cases entirely) untouched.

By comparison, talks with the fourth union — the International Association of Firefighters Local 1285 — might be heading in a different direction. Although deals wrapped up relatively quickly with the other unions, negotiators for the city and the firefighters union have met six times behind closed doors in recent months, said Dean Fletcher, president of that union. And more talks are scheduled.

The firefighters might be reluctant to strike a deal because the city is using them to test Goodman’s warnings about significantly reduced benefits, as opposed to small reductions in cost-of-living raises.

Certainly the city needs more savings.

Mark Vincent, the city’s finance guru, said the deals with the first three unions saved the city about $19.3 million over the next five years.

According to Vincent, who declined to discuss the talks with the firefighters union, 75 percent of the city’s budget is made up of labor and benefit costs.

“From Day One, we’ve said everything is on the table,” Vincent said.

At stake are the health care costs currently footed by the city — including significant percentages also covered for workers’ spouses and dependants. Also at risk for the firefighters are “step” raises — automatic pay hikes built into the salary scale for certain positions.

Fletcher said it is unfair to compare his union’s situation with that of the city employees, who were negotiating to extend their contract.

“They had a contract in place. We don’t,” said Fletcher, who called the ongoing talks “fruitful” but declined to elaborate.

The Las Vegas City Employees’ Association was the first group to strike a deal with the city. On Jan. 5 the city employees ratified by an almost 10-1 margin a three-year extension to their collective bargaining agreement, now in effect until 2014.

Under the agreement, those workers are receiving 2.5 percent cost-of-living raises, down from 3.5 percent. Those diminished raises don’t include the employees’ additional merit and “step” raises — automatic pay hikes built into the salary scale for certain positions — which were kept.

One day later the Las Vegas Peace Officers Association, the detention officers union, inked an agreement with the city. The union agreed to a similar 1 percent cost-of-living allowance reduction, as well as modest reductions in uniform and equipment allowances and health care contributions.

The following month the union that bargains for the city’s marshals — the Las Vegas Police Protective Association — agreed to a one-year contract with a reduced cost-of-living allowance of 0.96 percent, as well as a uniform and equipment allowance reduction.

Clark County’s firefighters union has been holding firm during its recent bargaining sessions. It hasn’t given any concessions, according to recent accounts.

As far as the city’s firefighters are concerned, it’s unclear where the parties stand, because no one is talking. What does seem clear is that the firefighters may have picked a difficult time to stand firm.