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Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 | 11:36 a.m.
Sun Coverage
CARSON CITY -- A Senate bill being considered today would give local governments authority to force its employees, including teachers, firefighters, police, and city and county workers, to take unpaid days off if their contracts are adjusted.
The move could prove controversial during the third day of the special session, where legislators are working to close an $887 million deficit. Asked about the plan, Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said, "This is about coming up with the best plan possible. Everyone is going to have to give."
Senate Minority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, noted in a Senate hearing that the bill wouldn't force local governments to institute furloughs, but would give them the option.
Legislative counsel Brenda Erdoes said: "What this bill does overall, this gives local government employers flexibility."
But local government union representatives said the move would only be effective if the contracts the unions negotiated with the governments are adjusted. Local governments have asked employees to come to the table to reduce wages, saying otherwise they will have to lay off workers. While some employee groups have come to the table, others, like firefighters and teachers union, have taken a stronger stand.
The day began with the Senate hearing a bill to keep state offices open only four days a week, for 10 hours a day. It would also slightly increase furloughs for state workers from 8 hours a month to 10 hours a month, increasing the effective pay cut from 4.6 percent to 5.7 percent.
Giving local governments the power to furlough its workers wouldn't address the state's shortfall, but it could give local governments more options in addressing their own growing shortfalls.
The Legislature has, over the years, granted extensive powers to local employee unions like teachers and firefighters in collective bargaining.
Studies have shown that local government employees, particularly firefighters and other employees of counties and cities, make some of the highest wages nationally and more than local government employees elsewhere.
don't give these agencies an option. We're in dire straights here. No one wants a cut, but, to say any cut is unreasonable, is just pure disgust and self serving. This is just sickening to the core.
The Legislature has, over the years, granted extensive powers to local employee unions like teachers and firefighters in collective bargaining.
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The problem is that the Legislature has put the local governments in a bind. They don't permit unions to bargain with the state over wages and benefits but require the local governments to. The taxpayers are being held hostage by the Teachers' Union and the Fire Union. It's time to change the law. Consider this. The taxpayers are paying for the Teachers' Union to go to Carson City for the Special Session. The taxpayers are paying for the Billboards on the roadways where it says "Teachers Vote" In other words, they're telling you they have POWER. The taxpayer doesn't.
It is real simple - Just cut the department budgets to what it needs to be and let the department heads figure it what they want to do. Why is the legislature trying to mico-manage anything at all. Give direction and everyone can just deal with it.
"Give direction and everyone can just deal with it."
They did that the last time - that's how you ended up with some departments (especially Corrections) going way over on overtime and "exempting" employees, and others taking it on the chin.
mwh, cry me a flippin river. State employees all over have never gotten a cola that meets what inflation is. We would get 2% and they would take 1 1/2% for adjusted ins. We just got a 4.6% cut and about to get another. WHAT are you taking? What are you willing to give up? I don't feel a bit sorry, for any of you teachers. You and the firefighters, have left a real sour taste in all of Nevadas mouths. Don't expect any sympathy anytime soon.
How do you give teachers unpaid days off without a negitive impact on education? Do we cut the school days? Does a substitute come in? I don't like either option as it is not in the best interest of my child's education. We need more school days, not less and I've seen what happens when a substitute is in the classroom. You might as well cancel the day. My children have always has great teachers and two have already left for other states. I am worried about how all this will effect my children.