North Las Vegas firefighters take pay cut to save 35 jobs

By Conor Shine

Published Monday, July 18, 2011 | 2:58 p.m.

Updated Monday, July 18, 2011 | 3:53 p.m.

The North Las Vegas firefighters' union voted to approve an agreement Monday that will cut their base pay by 5 percent in order to save 35 jobs.

The deal will help save an additional $2 million on top of the $4 million in concessions firefighters made in May, according to a statement released by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1607.

The deal will go before the North Las Vegas City Council for final approval Wednesday.

Thirty-five firefighters were targeted for layoffs before the deal was struck as the city works to close a $30 million budget gap.

Union president Jeff Hurley said the deal was one "that had to be done" in order to get the city on the path towards recovery.

"The firefighters here in North Las Vegas are leading by example," Hurley said.

This is the sixth round of concessions the firefighters have made in the past two years amidst the city's ongoing financial woes. In total, Hurley estimated North Las Vegas firefighters have foregone $20 million in wages since 2008.

As part of the agreement, firefighters will also give up education incentives, bilingual incentives and uniform maintenance pay.

The base salary cut will take effect Aug. 1 and will be spread evenly over 13 pay periods until Jan 31, 2012.