State employees decry cut to extra pay for evening, night work

By Cy Ryan

Monday, Aug. 22, 2011 | 5:14 p.m.

Cutbacks to extra pay given to state employees who work in the evenings or overnight prompted an outcry from workers who told state officials that they've already lost too much to pay and benefit reductions.

The Legislature decided to scale back the so-called pay differential for those working all or part of the swing or graveyard shifts -- lawmakers decided to only pay the differential of 5 percent on two hours for every four hours work.

The change will take effect once the state Personnel Division adopts relevant regulations.

The proposal ran into a parade of criticism at a public hearing held by the division, with more than 10 representatives of highway patrol officers, probation officers, prison employees and mental health workers saying they have already suffered enough through the state's budget cuts.

"State workers are being nickel and dimed," said Priscilla Maloney, labor representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. "Workers at the state prison in Lovelock are coming home with a two-week paycheck of $300 to $400 and they can't live on that."

The Legislature cut the pay of state workers by 2.5 percent and ordered they take six unpaid furlough days a year, which equates to a 4.8 percent salary reduction. Merit and longevity pay were suspended and medical benefits were reduced.

Ron Larson of the Association of Highway Patrol Troopers said the law enforcement officers work 14 hours but would get the 5 percent differential pay for only two hours. He noted that the cut won't save the state much because 97 percent of the funds to cover the additional pay comes from the federal government.

Employees in the UNLV Police Department, who work 12-hour shifts, would lose their differential.

A long-time worker in the state mental health system from Las Vegas said it was harder to meet day-to-day expenses. He said the reduction in differential pay will mean a loss of $100 a month.

State Budget Director Jeff Mohlenkamp said differential pay was reduced to help the state prison system stay within budget. But he said the Legislature mishandled it and the law applies to all agencies.

The savings to the state prisons will be $2 million over two years.

"This was not the intent to harm state employees,"Mohlenkamp said. "It was an attempt to live within our means."

The testimony will be presented to state Personnel Commission at its tentative meeting set for October. The commission will have to decide whether to adopt the regulation.