North Las Vegas approves contract with Police Supervisors Union

The North Las Vegas City Council on Monday approved an agreement on contract concessions with the Police Supervisors Union that will save the city about $3.9\u2007million over the next four years.

After weeks of court-ordered talks, city officials and the union agreed to eliminate union members' cost-of-living raises through January 2014.

The 57-member union agreed to give up its 4.25 percent cost-of-living raise that began July 1 and a 2.5 percent raise scheduled for January. The loss of this year's 4.25 percent raise would not be retroactive.

"It was a long journey for the (union) and the city," said Joyce Lira, the city's director of human resources. "But we are very pleased we were able to find some mutual agreement between us."

Attorney Richard Dreitzer, who represents the city, said the approval resolves pending litigation in District Court and with the state's Local Government-Employee Relations Management Board, which is expected to save the city money.

Net savings during fiscal 2012 will be $378,000, city officials said. The officials have said the city needs to come up with about $1.5 million to save two city-run recreation centers targeted for closure in October to help bridge a $4.4\u2007million budget shortfall in the city's 2012 budget.

"This doesn't put us anywhere we need to be," said Councilwoman Anita Wood, who voted reluctantly in favor of the agreement. "We need $1.5 million to keep those rec centers open."

Wood added that the agreement sets a bad precedent for future negotiations with the Teamsters and fire unions.

Mayor Shari Buck said the agreement is the best the city can do at this point.

"It's a slap in the face to say it's not good enough," Buck said. "That's how we've gotten ourselves in this situation. Stop the internal bickering between union and union, and employee and employee. It's time to move forward."

At a previous meeting, the City Council approved cuts that included 21 layoffs and the closure of the rec centers to balance its fiscal 2012 budget because city officials had been unable to reach concessions with its two police unions.

The agreement with the supervisors union could put the city one step closer to keeping open Silver Mesa Recreation Center and the Neighborhood Recreation Center on Bruce Street.

But it's unlikely unless more concessions are made, Wood said.

In exchange for the concessions, city officials agreed to pay union members who have been with the city at least 10 years 100 percent of their accrued sick leave upon their departure from the city.

The city previously paid 60 percent, said Sgt. Leonard Cardinale, president of the supervisors association.

Union members will receive 40 hours of additional annual leave, which they must use within a year.

The city also agreed not to privatize the city jail through at least June 30, 2015. The city will take back the recent demotions of two corrections lieutenants and two sergeants.

The police supervisors union represents sergeants and lieutenants. They average $147,700 a year in salary, plus $72,600 in benefits.

Although thankful for the vote, Cardinale was critical of city staffers.

"I would like to see a 5-, 10-, 15-year plan to see how we can get on our feet financially," Cardinale said. "We need to stabilize rather than, 'Let's just see if we can get through these next few months and then go back for more concessions or layoffs.' "

Earlier this month, the two parties appeared before a District Court judge for a union request for a preliminary injunction to freeze cuts to police supervisors' pay and benefits.

The judge ordered them to meet for talks in hopes they could agree on concessions to help the city fill its budget gap.

The city has yet to reach an agreement with the 360-member Police Officers Association. Mike Yarter, association president, declined to comment Monday, citing ongoing negotiations with the city.

Buck has said she is confident that agreement will come soon and the centers will remain open.

Contact Downtown and North Las Vegas View reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@viewnews.com or 383-0492.

Trending topics:

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• North Las Vegas
• North Las Vegas City Council
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• union

Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. D.Noonan Sep. 3, 2011 | 2:18 a.m. Report Abuse

   Private sector Pete, Once again sir, I'm not a fireman. I'm life long resident of NLV and work a non union job. I read the RJ on line when I get time. I feel any employee, public or private sector, who abuse the system should be fired. I find your comments funny but offer no real substance. You come off as a person who did not pass the fireman / police entry test, lost a spouse or lady friend to a cop or fireman, or someone who is upset with his own job choice. I believe any job will have a few bad apples but to beat upon the fireman and cops is wrong. Sir, I honestly do pray for you andI hope you find what your looking for. If you decide to leave your child like comments at least come up with some new material. I look forward to your future posts but I will no longer respond to you. Good luck, God Bless, and enjoy your day!

2. Hmmmmm... Sep. 2, 2011 | 11:55 p.m. Report Abuse

   LOL wow Plastron, you are a real comedian. No Im not a POA member, nor the spouse of one. You actually did a google search on get a life huh? Just proves my point again that you need to get a life. Must be a pretty sad existence sitting on a PC looking for articles to serve as a platform for your tirades.

3. Plastron Sep. 2, 2011 | 9:33 a.m. Report Abuse

   @Hmmmmm -- I did a Google search on "Get a life." You must be a pretty busy person trying to read and figure out all the 'hits' one gets by doing that. Perhaps it is you, Hmmmmm, that should "Get a life."
   
   I'm guessing on this, but I have the feeling you're a member of the POA. If so, do you discuss your blogs when you meet on your paid lunch hours (1/2 off on the price - or free?)? Or maybe you're just a spouse. I remember an officer one time, got a dozen 'free' doughnuts - took them home to his kids.
   
   So, now it's time for you to: Get a life!

4. Hmmmmm... Sep. 1, 2011 | 1:09 p.m. Report Abuse

   Get a life as in, get a life.

5. Plastron Sep. 1, 2011 | 10:31 a.m. Report Abuse

   @Hmmmmm -- Bitter "drivel?" Hardly... Or by "drivel" do you mean when I inquire as to why two corrections officer were put on paid administrative leave after the recent suicide at the NLV Detention Center in Charlie Dorm? Gosh, guess it should be okay to fudge your cell-check logs (and of course 'busted' by the camera). And it is "drivel" to inform people about the cover up when an US Marshll detainee (in handcuffs) was kicked and stomped on, receiving a broken hip? And "drivel" when he and another command officer went into a cell (with another US Marshall detainee), and when they left the detainee had a detached retina (later went blind in the eye and has a lawsuit going against the City, et al). And is it "drivel" when the sibling of a high-ranking PD officer gets hired at the jail, passing their background check even though they've had felony arrests? And is it "drivel" when it's pointed out that a NLV PD detective can violate a person's constitutional rights by simply lying? And I asked you once before, "Get a life as in ? ? ? "

6. concerned in nlv Aug. 31, 2011 | 9:41 a.m. Report Abuse

   Thank you so much for helping, Cardinale- you helped sink this city while taking your paycheck to the bank- in Henderson, of course. When all these contracts expire with the city unions- if we still have a city, I hope everyone on council has the balls to fire everyone & start over. 60,000 to 80,000 is all any of them are worth. Make them all reside in NLV. Labor unions don't have sick days & are not guaranteed a 40 hr. work week. Stop this childish crap with these posts. They aren't funny & certainly aren't professional.

7. No More Pizza Aug. 30, 2011 | 11:12 p.m. Report Abuse

   @ Anita... are you related to Cher's daughter/son? You look just like her/him... but with blonde hair. Good luck on Dancing with the stars! ;-)

8. Sac Aug. 30, 2011 | 8:03 p.m. Report Abuse

   This is when the City of Las Vegas started the overtime. Be built but did not staff.
   
   Friday, November 03, 2000
   Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
   
   EDITORIAL: Public safety questions
   
   
   
   
   
   
   The cities of Henderson and Las Vegas are asking residents to approve higher property taxes in order to provide additional public safety services.
   
   Henderson's Question 1 seeks voter permission to increase property taxes by about $84 a year on a $100,000 home, generating an estimated $786 million over the next three decades. City officials say the money will allow them to hire 166 police officers, 30 firefighters and paramedics, and 41 support staff personnel.
   
   Las Vegas Question 1 asks residents to increase property taxes by about $33 a year on a $100,000 home, raising more than $551 million over the next 30 years. The city will use the money to build four new fire stations, renovate three existing stations, replace the city's entire firefighting fleet, and hire 96 fire and rescue workers.
   
   Clearly, the Las Vegas measure is more urgent. Henderson officials admit that even if their proposal doesn't pass, growth there will generate enough revenue to allow them to maintain current service levels -- but not enough to "get ahead." Henderson voters have been generous in their support of tax increases to fund more parks, so perhaps they won't bat an eye here. We believe, however, a more modest proposal would have been preferable. We recommend a no vote.
   
   In Las Vegas, however, service has been deteriorating. Response times have increased by close to 30 percent in recent years. The city's population and land area have grown dramatically over the past decade, yet Las Vegas hasn't added a single new fire station in the same period. The bond issue is a reasonable attempt to catch up. We urge a yes vote.

9. Sac Aug. 30, 2011 | 6:26 p.m. Report Abuse

   Laughing @ Pete; You're a ill-informed drama queen. The MGM fire was the largest loss of life fire, however some of the largest fires we have had are the construction fires. As a firefighter, not a supervisor, If I worked 40 hours a week with 27 years in, I would make 48,000 a year, but I don't work 40 hours a week. We put in 56 hours at straight time. (that additional 16 hours of straight time is an advantage for the tax payer.) Over that, (and I know that will be hard for you to comprehend) we are paid overtime. The CITY (Las Vegas) wanted us to work overtime to reduce costs. That started around the year of 2000. (so the decades and decades statement is wrong as well) The city wanted us to work that overtime because it is cheaper to pay the overtime instead of hiring more firefighters. The city saves 20 to 30 percent over hiring additional personnel, which again, is a tax savings to you. Now I don't know what my doctor makes, but I do know what teachers make, and they make around 50,000 work less that 40 hours a week and work 9 months out of the year. I worked this year right at 300 hours a month. If teachers worked 300 hours a month they would make far more than I did. Over the past 25 years, the city has quadrupled in size, but the personnel which man the equipment every day has only doubled. This is not new to Vegas, but is happening all over the US. One report if you want figures that I don't have from Las Vegas was a report on line from either Philly or Boston, that said; It cost the city 76,000 for a new hire and 52,000 to staff the position with overtime.

10. Hmmmmm... Aug. 30, 2011 | 5:16 p.m. Report Abuse

    Hey Plastron, why is it ok for you to spew all your bitter drivel and yet someone else cant say what they want? You think everyone wants to read all of your garbage? Who appointed you as the censor of what is nice to say? As I said before, Get a life.

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