Firefighters offer contract change to county

A union leader told Clark County commissioners Tuesday about a proposed contract change that firefighters approved in a three-day vote last week.

The firefighters union has been criticized for not reducing pay raises the way other unions have to aid the county in its budget crunch.

The proposal is a money-saving concession that proves firefighters are willing to do their part in tough economic times, argued Ryan Beaman, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 1908.

"We are first and foremost public servants," Beaman told commissioners.

Because Beaman spoke during the time set aside for public comment, commissioners were not allowed to respond.

After the meeting, Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said she will request that the commission discuss the offer as a personnel matter in a closed session at the Aug. 4 meeting.

"The board needs to give direction," Giunchigliani said. "It's a place to start."

More than a dozen firefighters, wearing bright yellow T-shirts, accompanied Beaman when he arrived at the meeting. By the time he spoke, the contingent had dwindled to a handful in the audience.

Beaman estimates that roughly 500 of the union's 700 members cast ballots and approved the offer by a 4-to-1 margin.

The proposal calls for reducing firefighters' cost-of-living raise to 2 percent from 3 percent in return for two additional paid leave days and a two-year contract extension.

Firefighters also would forgo $4 million in new security systems at stations, such as fencing and electronic gates. Such features would help keep thieves from burglarizing cars when crews are in the field, Beaman said.

Beaman and county officials disagree about the benefit of scrapping the security program because the $4 million is limited to capital projects within the department.

Beaman contends the county can find some way to use that money to cover operating costs. County officials say they do not see how they can.

Beaman accused County Manager Virginia Valentine of not taking the proposal to the commission after she told him she would.

As the policymakers, commissioners should decide whether they like the proposal or whether it should be changed, Beaman said.

If commissioners think the union should drop the additional paid-leave days from the proposal, then they should have a chance to state that, Beaman said.

Firefighters are serious about doing their share to aid the county in its budget crunch, Beaman said. "We are alarmed that the county management is not."

Valentine tells a different story. She said she and Beaman never reached an agreement. She did not see his offer as a concession because it does not save money, she said.

She waited for him to come back with a revised offer, and instead he e-mailed commissioners, claiming the two had agreed on a tentative proposal, she said.

"I never signed a tentative agreement with him," Valentine said. "To this day I have never seen what they (union members) voted on."

Valentine said she would be happy to see a concession from firefighters that truly cuts costs.

She is also concerned that a two-year contract extension would prevent the county from bargaining in an uncertain financial time.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak agreed. "I have no clue what condition we're going to be in (next year)," he said.

Two added paid-leave days would cost $1.3 million, canceling the $1.2 million in savings the county would get from the reduced pay raises, he said. "It doesn't offer any concession."

Commissioner Larry Brown said he was glad that the firefighters were stepping forward with something that can begin talks.

That's not to say he is sold on the offer, he said.

"If that's the final product, I'm not sure," Brown said.

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