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Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman speaks during a news conference in his office at City Hall Monday, March 15, 2010. Goodman backed away from his proposal to fire all Las Vegas city employees, then rehire those who agree to work a shorter work week.
Thursday, March 18, 2010 | 1:26 p.m.
Sun Coverage
- Goodman backs off proposal to fire, rehire city employees (3-15-2010)
- Mayor ‘serious’ about firing/rehiring city employees (3-11-2010)
- Council advances budget that would leave 146 jobless (3-10-2010)
- Las Vegas mayor: Salary cuts needed to save 171 city jobs (3-4-2010)
- Goodman: City could save 171 jobs if unions agree to pay cut (2-25-2010)
- Las Vegas Mayor: No agreement yet on city employee contracts (1-28-2010)
- Las Vegas mayor calls on city employee unions to reopen contracts (1-7-2010)
- Las Vegas City Council OKs 8 percent salary, benefits cut (1-6-2010)
Mayor Oscar Goodman today used the word “gridlock” to describe ongoing budget negotiations with unions that represent city employees.
Goodman backed away Monday from his proposal to fire, then rehire, employees who agreed to work a shorter week after being told by the city attorney it could create legal troubles. But the mayor said he will continue to bargain with unions in his attempt to cut employee costs by 8 percent and avoid layoffs.
“I don’t want to lose any employees and I don’t want to cut out our services,” he said during a Thursday news conference at his City Hall office. “I need 8 percent either by salary or benefits or a combination of the two.”
Notices were sent to 146 city employees Monday indicating they will lose their jobs by June 30, the end of the fiscal year.
At the April 7 city council meeting, the city will revisit what it will cut from the budget. The mayor said he hopes the “truth will come out” after both the city and the unions’ collective bargaining units speak at the meeting.
“The 8 percent is very reasonable,” Goodman said. “I have no problem asking for it and sticking by my guns.”
City officials expect a budget shortfall of $70 million, followed by a deficit of $40 million in the next fiscal year.
Goodman said although he has been told not to be optimistic, he thinks that the economy will bounce back “one day at a time.”
I am a supporter of the unions, yet in this case you gotta be kidding me. 8% to save 140+ jobs. How do you say no to that? Thank you Fire yet again screwing over the people in LV. It's not like you guys even fight fires... At least you guys spend hours at the gyms which you get into for free!! Must be nice that you so called firefighters get a bonus every time you transport a patient to the hospital! Explain that to me please...
Contract out fire protection. Let a private firm come in and provide trained professionals at a fixed cost and save enough money to not just balance the budget but to have reserves for next year.
This has been done in other communities and it is time for Las Vegas to restart the trend. Quit giving away our future to a few.
Time to fire them all and start over with people that need jobs.
i think they would negotiated but when he try to fire every1. he f*** up. this what he deserve he definitely not a great negotiator lol. also if going to ask certain people take 8 percent. not going to work. now if u ask every1 i mean every1 who work for city and county take 8 percent. i might work
Perry - You are an idiot... Learn to speak and write before you comment on any issue. By the looks of it you don't have the mental capacity to understand what your commenting on.
By the way - Goodman doesn't oversee the County or their budget. They are completely seperate entities.
Oscar the Grouch, in all his Sartorial Splendor, as usual!
What, you thought they would "roll over" because you threatened them?
It is sad that the Sun does not add all the facts. The cuts are 16% total. 8% each year for the next 2 years straight. Also the Fire Dept IS the only 1 of 4 unions actually in contract negotiations. While they have their issues, this one is not their fault. The other 3 unions' contracts don't expire for years and they are under no obligation to formally talk.
The Mayor is citing 'gridlock', but also states that he will 'stick to his guns'. A failure to negotiate is left at the hands of those on the other side of the bargaining table.
This is not negotiation, it is simply an ultimatum with failure to have the ability legally to follow through.
What amazes me is that if things were different and the unions said hey, things are going great we know its in the middle of a contract but you guys have extra money we think we need a raise, do you think anyone would go for that? didn't think so. no one is gonna be happy, so spread the cuts around as thinly as possible, make it fair. I know all about the 18% pay cut, two family members of mine are city employees. They have already given up cost of living raises, uniform allowances and other cuts. I wonder if the mob had wanted Oscar to take a pay cut when he was making all his wealth how well that would have gone over?
Oscar! Don't drink and dress!
Oscar buys his clothes at the Fashion Show mall.
Then he goes across the street to the nearest bar.
Silence is Golden, Duct tape is Silver.......
For the 1 billionth time....Sun.....it is 8% wage cut this year and 8% wage cut next year that the drunk wants the City workers to take.
Can you take 101 basic newspaper classes or something?
who cares DOCLURCH. that what so wrong with society criticize other people. the people who degrade other people should look in the mirror. have a nice day and don't kick your dog if u have a bad day. so what does this mayor goober do. what is he in charge of. is he a fiqure head or just another talking head. i don't come here to criticize other people i know no one perfect.
Yo Bro perry161492 wazzzup in da hood?
Folks, just please look at the other side, you are not hearing everything from the tables. The LV sun will only report the "bad stuff," There are 2 sides to every negotiation, and there are more that is going on. The LV Sun will only report what the mayor wants you to think. Are there problems? Yes, there are... Just remember that there are 2 sides...
Perry is okay.
I enjoy his posts.
stgRock is... right.
Is that tie made from an old pair of City Hall curtains?
I am sure goodman has a few tricks up his sleeves.
He will not get pushed around and he will fix the budget.He has been a real Las Vegan when it all started.He came in with a boom and he will go out with a ??????
We can privatize but anybody remember when the private ambulance threatened to strike? Well, the CLV FF's stepped up to the plate and took over their transports. And bond213 is absolutely right, there are 2 sides to every story. We'll all just have to wait and see...
The problem lies with this:
They are asking for an 8% cut this year and an 8% next year for a total of 16% to avoid laying off 160 people this year. What happens when they do take the cuts and the city still lays off the workers and then lays more off next year? I agree they need to give concessions, but not what the city is asking for.
The funny thing is the Metro unions now aren't willing to give up until the firefighters give something up.
One more correction......the drunk is asking 8% wage cuts this year and 8% wage cut year from all unions EXCEPT for the firefighter union.
By magic they recently found some money and they are asking for zero cuts from them.
So what if private ambulance strikes??? Out of 400 employees, only 80-100 employees are union members, since Nevada is a right to work state. Not much of a dent if they ever do decide to strike.
perry 161492 is really Mayor Goodman after a bottle of beef eater gin at home after work on his laptop.
perry161492 is really Steve Horsface, and yes, he does reside in "da hood"
Neither the firefighters or the police will ever strike. They have no strike clauses in their contracts.
Hang in there Oscar, the union are mobilized to berate and degrade you but stick to your gun. Sooner or later they will learn the hazards of biting the hand that feeds them.
"So what if private ambulance strikes??? Out of 400 employees, only 80-100 employees are union members, since Nevada is a right to work state. Not much of a dent if they ever do decide to strike".
OMG!! Get all the facts before you post and show your true ignorance about the state you live in.
How do we handle the city fire departments that are not transporting? Do we just let people of unfortunate circumstance walk to the hospital?
Nevada is a right-to-work state but only if you do not have a written and legally viable contract. The right-to-work does not apply to everyone, even in the private sector. Everyone reading, know your rights where you work.