Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

North Las Vegas OKs deal to avoid firefighter layoffs

Richard Cherchio

Richard Cherchio

Anita Wood

Anita Wood

The North Las Vegas City Council approved a compromise Wednesday that will prevent firefighter layoffs during the next fiscal year.

Earlier this year, North Las Vegas announced that it would likely have to lay off 16 firefighters unless changes were made to current contracts. The city had to cut $1.9 from the fire department’s budget for next fiscal year because of the economic downturn.

The city looked into a number of options, including taking over some of the ambulance business of AMR/MedicWest, a private company, to help pay the city firefighters.

In the end, the city and the firefighters union came to a compromise, including reducing the number of firefighters on each engine from five to four, which is standard throughout the rest of the valley.

The change should save the city about $1.1 million next year, said Joyce Lira, human resources director for the city.

The firefighters also agreed to forgo any wage increases, and new firefighters and paramedics will start at 5 percent less than the existing entry-level pay. Stand-by pay will also be lowered from $4 per hour to $2 per hour, she said.

In exchange, the city agreed not to sign with any private companies that could perform the duties of the fire department and agreed not to lay off any members.

Mayor Pro Tem William Robinson and Councilman Robert Eliason voted against the deal.

Mayor Shari Buck, Councilman Richard Cherchio and Councilwoman Anita Wood voted in favor.

After the meeting, Eliason and Robinson declined to comment about their votes.

During Wednesday’s meeting, Wood thanked the union for its willingness to compromise with the city.

“I know that it has been a very difficult process,” Wood said. “I know there was a lot of animosity going back and forth.”

Cherchio said the union had its priorities straight: Keeping the most people employed while making concessions. He said he understands concessions don’t come easily.

“It’s very difficult to give something back,” he said. “We all understand. We all have families.”

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