Firefighters union extinguishes talks

The Clark County firefighters union chief declared impasse in contract negotiations Tuesday, extending by a half year or longer the county's search for concessions during hard economic times.

Ryan Beaman, president of the Clark County Firefighters Local 1908, issued what he called the union's last offer of about $10 million in concessions, and criticized county bargainers.

"Clark County officials have stonewalled the firefighters," said Beaman. "We have made our negotiations as flexible as possible. However, we have lost all faith in the county negotiators' ability to get things done as responsibly as possible."

County Manager Virginia Valentine fired back with a strongly worded memo. She called the union's statements "disingenuous and blatantly misleading."

The union hasn't offered anything that would reduce firefighters' compensation or cut labor costs, Valentine said. Aside from two small concessions, the union mainly offers one-time deferrals of wages and benefits that add up to only a fraction of the $10 million in savings that the union is claiming, she said.

The two sides have bargained since March to renew the firefighters' contract for a year. The contract expired in July.

The county and union probably will go to a fact-finding session in which a moderator helps the two parties analyze why they're unable to reach a compromise. If they still can't resolve their differences, they will go to binding arbitration, present their best offers and live with the ruling the administrator hands down.

County leaders have indicated that in this economic climate they would take a harder line in bargaining with the union than in the past. The county wrestled with a hefty shortfall much of the year, leading to almost 300 layoffs -- none of them firefighters -- 1,250 unfilled jobs and a depleted financial reserve.

Union representatives said they realize labor costs must be reduced and were willing to work with county officials.

The county continues to hire employees and promote managers, going against cost-cutting policies the County Commission enacted, Beaman said.

Rather than address those larger problems, "county commissioners insist on balancing the books on the backs of firefighters," he said.

Beaman was alluding to county leaders disbanding the Fire Department's heavy rescue and hazardous materials teams to beef up a relief staff that can fill in for absent co-workers for regular pay instead of overtime. The union has run ads denouncing those moves, singling out commission Chairman Rory Reid, a gubernatorial candidate, as the main culprit.

Valentine said the statement about county leaders balancing the books on the backs of firefighters was "the most disconcerting element."

"County personnel outside of the fire service have been subject to layoffs, position freezes, demotions and other wage reductions that have not impacted the fire service," she wrote.

Beaman said the union's proposed concessions and other spending cuts, including projected savings, include:

■ Freezing step increases for one year: $1.65 million.

■ Suspending the county's paramedic school: $1.4 million.

■ Deviating from engineer exam schedule one time: $1.2 million.

■ Reducing contributions to the health Insurance trust for one year: $747,000.

■ Freezing tuition reimbursement for a year: $185,000.

■ Eliminating the public information officer position: $158,000.

■ Adjusting sick leave policy: $757,400.

■ Freezing the emergency medical services coordinator job for a year: $217,000.

■ Freezing the public education officer's job for a year: $140,000.

■ Eliminating some gear for airport fire employees: $10,000.

Beaman offered no further details about those items. He didn't return phone calls seeking comment Tuesday.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak, a staunch critic of firefighters' compensation, tore into Beaman's list of savings.

Only a third of firefighting staff are eligible for step increases, Sisolak said. Also, firefighters wouldn't pay more for health insurance or give up anything, but would simply skim money from a surplus fund built up over years, he said.

The union is taking credit for eliminating a job -- public information officer -- that management slashed, Sisolak said. As for sick leave, the union is acknowledging there has been abuse and is agreeing to limit the days a firefighter can use before being required to see a doctor.

"You show me one thing in this list of 10 that reduces the check they take home every month," Sisolak said. "There isn't one."

Commissioner Tom Collins agreed that Beaman was inflating the savings.

The reduced costs that would come from his proposed contract changes would total about $1.5 million, rather than $10 million, he said.

"Let's just call it being a little cloudy with the numbers," Collins said.

Collins said he was disappointed that the two sides were unable to strike a deal after five months of bargaining and now could wind up in arbitration. The union should have made a much better offer than this one by now, he said.

"I thought Ryan Beaman would do a better job of representing the members," Collins said.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said fact-finding could be a constructive way to loosen the deadlock. An impartial person, usually an attorney, helps the players to set aside their personalities and examine the facts, she said.

Reid said one fact was clear to him.

"Their concessions won't reduce firefighters' paychecks by one nickel," Reid said. "They haven't done enough to rein in their compensation."

Sisolak said his letter to the editor, published in Tuesday's Review-Journal, might have spurred Beaman to issue the statement. In the letter, Sisolak urged the county and the union to forgo confidentiality and publicize their best offers.

The problem with arbitration is it will drag the labor dispute on for six or seven months, while the firefighters get their current pay and benefits, he said.

By the time this round of bargaining gets resolved, it will be time to begin talking about the next contract, he said.

"Every day that goes by gets us closer to the next negotiations," Sisolak said.

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