Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
StumbleService employees union OKs divisive contract
Monday, Feb. 6, 2012 | 12:08 p.m.
By more than 80 percent, Clark County's union of service employees ratified last week a new two-year contract that preserves longevity pay but eliminates merit pay increases over the next two years.
The deal is seen as a win for both the county, which will save $20.4 million over two years, and for the union, which preserved longevity — something county administrators want to eliminate over the long term.
But it has caused dissension in the union, where even longtime supporter Joseph Campbell, a union steward who voted in favor of the contract, has decided to resign.
In emails forwarded to the Sun, Campbell said he didn't believe union members were getting enough information about the true effect of the contract. He wanted to give members more time to be "properly educated." Instead, he wrote, access to the union's email system was blocked.
So Saturday afternoon, Campbell turned in his resignation as a union steward to Al Martinez, president of Service Employees Union Local 1107. Campbell, who was a member of the union's bargaining team, also said he would now seek Martinez's seat during the next election for union president.
"Union Hall mentality is that membership are sheep to be herded to and fro and never to be given complete information," Campbell wrote. "We are subject, in my opinion, to the 'smart' Union bosses at the Hall and 'we' the membership, can never be trusted to make the right decisions based on the facts."
Union spokesman Nick Di Archangel said the union held informational meetings, put out fliers and made robo-calls, all with the intent of educating members about the terms of the contract.
"Our members knew what they were voting for," he said.
The Clark County Commission is expected to vote on the contract at its meeting Tuesday.
Discussion: 2 comments so far…
Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy. Additionally, we now display comments from trusted commenters by default. Those wishing to become a trusted commenter need to verify their identity or sign in with Facebook Connect to tie their Facebook account to their Las Vegas Sun account. For more on this change, read our story about how it works and why we did it.
Only trusted comments are displayed on this page. Untrusted comments have expired from this story.
Post a comment
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Discussed
- E-mailed
Everything Under the Sun
Blogs
The Kats Report
Clint Holmes is a big deal at Cabaret Jazz and 'The Carlyle!'; Playboy's furry-ous closing; Elvis is a 'Legend'
Joe Pesci remembers his own honeymoon in Vegas -- meeting the Rat Pack (1 Comment)
Las Vegas Philharmonic says search for new music director to begin 'immediately' (1 Comment)
With Shenandoah project stalled, Wayne Newton hits back legally (7 Comments)
Where does a Playmate play when she turns 21? Vegas! (3 Comments)
Ice Ice Billy
The road to six-toed cats and Mayor Bubba
The Kats Report
David Itkin tells L.V. Philharmonic officials he's on his way out (14 Comments)
- Locally owned and independent since 1950; Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, best news website in the nation & DuPont Award for broadcast journalism
I am absolutely flabbergasted that the union rank and file would want to keep longevity pay for NEW HIRES in exchange for current members' merit pay.
I am not a member of this union so I am not commenting as such but find it highly selfish for those who are probably already topped out and receiving their longevity pay to throw the younger members "under the bus". Remember, one day these younger members will be in control of the union, making decisions for the senior members who are now are retired members.
This article misses the real points.
The employees are the ones that drive SEIU and the direction of the negotations and were provided plenty of information throughout the entire bargaining process and about what the voting really meant.
Joe Campbell didnt resign in protest of the vote or the process. He is just playing this paper like he plays everyone he deals with. He is just reaping the bad fruit of his bad deeds.
I guess it sells papers but I thought things were supposed to be checked out before a story runs?
But not this paper. Poor job on doing real work.
Great job of spreading rumors.
How many people were let go? They have their benefits and jobs. Until 20% of the union is let go let me know!
I'm just fortunate to have a job - even though I've gained no raises in the last 4 years. And, I've lost benefits as well. What I'm trying to say is these workers could have done much worse.