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Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011 | 4:55 p.m.
Sun archives
- County firefighters union preaches frugality, to others (11-2-2010)
- Sisolak offers proof of firefighters ‘gaming’ sick leave system (9-11-2010)
- County, firefighters’ union spar over contract negotiations (8-3-2010)
- Is a wave of county firefighter retirements on the horizon? (6-25-2010)
- Rory Reid says firefighters union resorting to ‘scare tactic’ with ad (6-15-2010)
- County considers plan to privatize airport firefighting force (6-11-2010)
- New plan to curtail Clark County firefighter overtime (6-5-2010)
- Staffing shuffle would cut county Fire Department overtime (5-20-2010)
- Las Vegas, Clark County collaborate to limit firefighter overtime (4-27-2010)
- Fire union resists move to increase its ranks, reduce overtime costs (4-16-2010)
- Has fire union support become a campaign curse? (4-15-2010)
Clark County firefighters will see a 5.5 percent reduction in total wages and benefits after an independent arbitrator selected the county’s contract offer, a move the county estimates will save taxpayers about $7.4 million.
The firefighters' final offer, which wasn't selected by the arbitrator, would have saved $6.1 million, the county said Wednesday. The contract award marks a final step in negotiations that started in February 2010.
The arbitrator was looking at issues of wage adjustments, sick leave, remote/travel pay, reduction in force and long-term disability benefits.
"We are pleased with the outcome," County Manager Don Burnette said in a statement. “It’s been a long, difficult process, and this was the right course of action. We’re happy to have this behind us.”
The agreement covers the period from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011. Under state law, negotiations for the next contract can begin Feb. 1, the county said.
In August, negotiations were declared to be at an impasse, and the next month the two sides agreed to binding arbitration. Five days of hearings took place between Nov. 1 and Dec. 9, with both parties having until Jan. 9 to submit a final offer. State law gives the arbitrator 10 days to accept one offer in its entirety.
The contract affects 741 employees covered under the agreement with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1908, which is the county’s second-largest union.
Both sides had agreed to freezes in salary increases as well as changes for how longevity pay is calculated for new employees outside of arbitration, the county said.
The agreement accepted by the arbitrator includes the following:
- $3.4 million in wage adjustments, including a 2 percent salary reduction
- Policy changes to improve the county’s ability to investigate abuse of sick leave
- Savings of $738,036 due to a lower contribution to the union’s insurance trust
- Savings of $500,000 attributed to modifications of the long-term disability policy
The county said it is looking ahead to its budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. A hearing on the preliminary budget is set for March 23 with a public hearing on the final budget scheduled for May 16.
How soon before we see the County's final proposal and the Firefighter's union final proposal? We have been promised by both sides that their offers will be published. Where are they?
Now... if they would tackle the sick leave = overtime game game...
It's time to eliminate the Pension Plans for all new government employees. Do a 401k match like the private sector, put all Goverment employees into the Social Security System. These plans should not be more generous than the ones of the people that pay for them. Pay good wages and benefits commensurate with the top 30 city averages. Tax Casinos for all equipment required to fight fires in properties over 20 stories, since 95% of these commercial Hotels and Condos are owned by them and firefighting in High Rises is more expensive and dangerous.
Well, that's a start. Next step, fire all the firefighters, disband the union, then hire back only those firefighters willing to work for reasonable wages and benefits and without a union. Then pass state legislation barring public sector unions.
Well, that's a start. Next step, fire all the firefighters, disband the union, then hire back only those firefighters willing to work for reasonable wages and benefits and without a union. Then pass state legislation barring public sector unions.
ionfield seems to be stuttering this morning. Be careful of what you wish for ionfield, you could have a fire at your place and the firefighters could be late in getting there.
It is sad that the firefighters are being treated this way... what group of employees are next to get their pay cut? I vote for all the politicians! What's good for the goose...
This is a start, but there is more to go. The ot and pension reform is whats needed next.
At least the county now has commissioners looking out for the people.
I haven't seen the same for the city, or NLV.
Barrett must one of these FF's that has to take a cut. Bawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
As the son of a retired firefighter in TX not LV, I have to say that some of the comments are idiotic. (Burritobandit/ionfield/newnvres) unsilent_majority, NLV Police and Fire have taken similar deals to save jobs and lower the budget, happened a couple of weeks ago. What needs to happen is for all of the FD's in LV to combine and work as one. Yes they deserve a pension plan, because they do the job that other people can't. Spend a day in ther shoes, deal with the bums spitting on you, cussing you out, walk into some of these homes and see what they see. Research how many fire fighters nation wide suffer from heart attacks on a yearly basis. Once you do all this research, come back and tell me who should be taking a pay cut, these guys or the government officials above them. The union is a neccesity, that is there to protect these guys. I'm not saying there aren't flaws in the current system, overtime is a hot issue, but Las Vegas has two of the top 5 stations in the country for volumes of calls they deal with. Combnie that with the growth thuis city has seen, the FD can't keep up with manpower needed. Hiring rookies helps, but the turn over w/ retirements takes away much needed experience.