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Thursday, May 5, 2011 | 5:59 p.m.
Sun archives
- Another firefighter perk fans flames (3-26-2011)
- Fire union official defends heavy use of sick leave in ’09 (3-6-2011)
- Firefighters' quest for a new perk was short-lived (3-4-2011)
- Under scrutiny, firefighter sick leave falls (2-27-2011)
- County considers seeking reimbursement over firefighter sick leave abuse (2-15-2011)
- County OKs contract with firefighters that saves $7.4 million (2-1-2010)
- Arbitrator backs county over firefighters’ union in contract negotiations (1-19-2011)
- 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)
After taking a lashing from an arbitrator who sided with Clark County negotiators earlier this year, the county's firefighter union ended contract talks after just a few months and took another base salary cut.
The stunning reversal of fortunes came after Clark County administrators, with support from county commissioners to make significant cuts in firefighter compensation, took firefighters to arbitration last year.
In a press release late Thursday, the county said negotiations this year "were completed in the shortest span of time in recent memory."
Though no one was saying it publicly, that undoubtedly happened because county firefighters have been vilified in the media. Not only did they lose their last round of negotiations in front of an arbitrator, but they are also under investigation for allegations of gaming the department's sick-leave system, something even the arbitrator talked about in his decision.
Contract changes include a 1.5 percent wage reduction, reductions in vacation and sick leave, a freeze on increases in longevity pay and tuition reimbursement, and reductions in remote pay and bonus leave for new employees.
The county said taxpayers will save $4.2 million in the coming fiscal year as a result of the contract, which would result in contract savings of about 3 percent. Combined with the contract settled in January for this fiscal year, savings over two years amount to $13.3 million annually, the county said in a statement.
The agreement between Clark County and Local 1908 of the International Association of Firefighters must be ratified by the County Commission and the union’s rank and file.
The negotiations, which began in February, were completed in the shortest span of time in recent memory, the county said. This contract will be in effect from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012.
Will they get a COLA or step increase? If so, they did not give up a thing. 1.5% reduction is nothing. Temporary holds on other pay is a kicking the can down the road. When will be see REAL reductions to FF pay?
Las Vegas Voters: Please, PLEASE elect Chris Giunchigliane your mayor. Get her off our county commission before she bankrupts the county.
Some of my friends on the Las Vegas Fire Dept. would love to earn $200 grand a year with a high school diploma.
Some of your friends already do @tarantula.
That's all? The County/State is killing our school system that was already a disaster by taking millions from the budget and teachers loosing their jobs. The fire fighters "give back" is a drop in the bucket. I think they better go back to the tables and take some more cuts. Just amazing!
Disgusting. These commissioners are a joke. Where is Sisolak??
Do those commenting even read before posting?
"Contract changes include a 1.5 percent wage reduction, reductions in vacation and sick leave, a freeze on increases in longevity pay and tuition reimbursement, and reductions in remote pay and bonus leave for new employees."
The reduction in vacation and sick leave nets a reduction in overtime, which directly contributed to the "$200,000" salaries that were so reviled. Moreover, the Commissioners haven't APPROVED the contract yet -- this is a PROPOSED budget reached between the FF's and the County negotiators. Your comments regarding the Commissioners are premature, at best.
WOW! I DON'T THINK THEY WENT FAR ENOUGH WITH CONCESSIONS. I HOPE THEY LOWER THE SALARY FOR ENTRY LEVEL FIREFIGHTERS FROM $50,000 TO ABOUT $25,000 AND LET THEM WORK THEIR WAY UP. LONGEVITY SHOULD BE A FLAT RATE, EXCEPT MORE SHOULD BE OFFERED TO STAFF THOSE POSITIONS WHO HAVE A HIGH ATTRITION RATES IN POSITIONS OF SCARCITY AND FIRE ISN'T ONE OF THEM. FIREFIGHTERS NEED TO GET "OFF" THE CLOCK WHEN DOING VOLUNTEERING WORK ALSO. A BOOT DRIVE AND GETTING PAID FOR IT IS NOT A VOLUNTEER. YOU ARE A PAID EMPLOYEE!
A 1.5% pay reduction - for these bloated parasites who earn an average of $180,000 a year. How noble.
Paying these high school educated cretins more than doctors to lounge around palatial fire stations all day is simply unbelievable.
1.5% of this...
http://transparentnevada.com/salaries/20...
is still BULL$#!^!!!
maybe it's time for new county managers???
To Matt Nelson, maybe you should have finished high school and then you might be able to lounge around in palatial fire stations all day. Don't you McDonald's employees have a nice break room?
do you need a college degree to become a fireman???