Clark County, firefighters union appear far apart as contract talks approach

The International Association of Firefighters Local 1908 has written two complaints against county officials.

The clash reflects the county hoping to win concessions to help offset an estimated $200 million shortfall, and the union trying to give up as little as possible from a generous contract forged in a more bountiful time.

The four-year contract will expire on June 30.

In one letter, dated March 2, the union’s leader accused Don Burnette, the county’s chief negotiator, of bad faith bargaining because he canceled an agreed-upon date of March 10 to exchange proposals.

“Once a date is offered, the county cannot unilaterally withdraw that date,” Ryan Beaman, the union’s president, wrote in a letter to County Manager Virginia Valentine. “When the county’s chief spokesman can’t even maintain his commitment to dates he offered, how can the union believe anything he says to the union at subsequent sessions?”

He went on to say that Burnette offered an alternative date of March 16, then withdrew it. Beaman threatened to file a formal charge against Burnette if the union and county didn’t meet on March 10. Neither Beaman nor county officials would confirm Friday whether the union filed the charge.

The other complaint, dated March 10, was sent to commission Chairman Rory Reid.

In the letter, the union’s attorney states that county commissioners have talked publicly about labor issues being negotiated. By doing so, commissioners broke the ground rules that the two sides established for bargaining and have engaged in an unfair labor practice, the letter states.

“Please take all steps to stop this activity and to insure compliance with the ground rules negotiated by the parties,” attorney David Holsberry wrote.

But Reid, who is not part of the county’s bargaining team, said commissioners should be allowed to say how they feel about labor costs as long as they don’t disclose anything discussed in bargaining.

“I don’t think talk about labor costs should be chilled,” Reid said. “We’re elected to have opinions. I think even a county commissioner has the right of the First Amendment.”

Commissioner Steve Sisolak, who openly bashes firefighters’ wages and benefits, said the letter was obviously directed at him, even though he wasn’t named.

“I am one person fighting an entire fire department,” he said.

Sisolak said he is not involved with the county’s bargaining team and, therefore, is free to express his views.

“This isn’t going to shut me up,” Sisolak said. “I will continue to advocate for the taxpayers. I will continue to speak when I think there are abuses and weaknesses in the system.”

He plans to call for an audit of the Fire Department after labor negotiations are finished to see whether firefighters are misusing sick leave. If there’s evidence pointing to fraud, he will push for a criminal investigation, he said.

Sisolak also has criticized the union for not offering what he thinks is a genuine concession in hard economic times.

Last year, the commission rejected a proposed contract change that would have reduced firefighters’ cost-of-living raises to 2 percent from 3 percent. In return, firefighters would have gotten two additional days of paid leave and a two-year contract extension.

Sisolak said he has received “tons” of e-mails and phone calls supporting his stance against firefighters’ compensation.

Lewis Spitzer, 76, was among them. He said firefighters’ pay and benefits are “grossly out of line” compared to what the average, middle-class resident earns.

“I think it’s gotten out of hand,” Spitzer said. “Our elected officials have not withstood the constant barrage of public employee unions.”

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.