North Las Vegas police supervisors union files suit against city

In a move that might force layoffs, North Las Vegas police supervisors have sued the city, seeking to block budget-cutting attempts that would toss out parts of union contracts.

The city's Police Supervisors Association filed the lawsuit Thursday afternoon in Clark County District Court.

The lawsuit alleges that the city is misusing state law and is in breach of its contract with the supervisors union. It asks the court to block a resolution passed by the City Council this month that would give the city manager the authority to suspend pay raises and other benefits despite what's in contracts.

Leonard Cardinale, the union president, said there is no provision in state law to allow the city to do what it is trying to do.

"They need to make a law to break our contract," he said.

Tim Hacker, the city manager who backed the resolution, said Friday that he had not been served with the lawsuit because the city's offices were closed. He did not want to comment on details of the lawsuit.

But he said the city had no other choice but to pass his resolution. City officials had to close a $30.9 million budget gap, and the unions would not agree to concessions that would have foregone raises and other benefits.

"If it's overturned," Hacker said, "then the only alternative for a balanced budget is layoffs."

Though police officers and firefighters unions also disagree with the city's action, both unions have chosen to keep their disagreement out of court.

Mike Yarter, president of the North Las Vegas Police Officers Association, said his union is going through the standard grievance process, which could end up in arbitration. He expects that it could take as long as a year to be resolved.

He is concerned that the lawsuit could force police officer layoffs, which, he said, is what his union has been trying to avoid. He said the union would have agreed long ago to forego pay raises if the city would guarantee no future layoffs. The city will not do that.

Jeff Hurley, president of the International Association of Firefighters Local 1607, said his union is going through the formal grievance process.

He said he agrees, however, with the contention that the resolution passed by the City Council is illegal.

The resolution makes the case that it would be inherently unsafe for the city to lay off hundreds of police officers and firefighters, which officials contend is necessary if unions do not agree to concessions.

It authorizes Hacker to force concessions using an obscure state law that says collective bargaining agreements can be suspended during serious emergencies, "such as riot, military action, natural disaster or civil disorder."

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0307.