North Las Vegas raises put on hold

North Las Vegas' largest labor union has agreed to defer a 4 percent annual cost-of-living increase to save the financially struggling city money.

The 780 city employees represented by Teamsters Local 14 voted last week on the concessions, the city said Wednesday.

The raises scheduled for the fiscal year starting July 1 will be deferred to later years.

The union's contract with the city, which expires in 2011, will be extended three years as part of the agreement.

The employees' annual "step" raises, which average 5 percent, will not be affected.

Concessions also include a deferral on sick leave "sell-back" for a year.

Employees have the option of selling back to the city a portion of their unused sick leave each year.

Estimated savings to the city's general fund because of the concessions will be $3.8 million.

The Teamsters represent employees in a variety of jobs ranging from secretaries to managers.

The City Council approved the agreement Wednesday, along with previously negotiated agreements with the city's police and firefighters unions that also included cost-of-living increase deferrals.

Together, savings to the city's general fund from the unions' concessions total about $7.8 million.

The city's general fund budget for fiscal year 2010 is $202 million, $31 million less than it originally planned.

Like other municipalities, North Las Vegas has seen declining revenues during the recession and has been forced to cut costs.

Contact reporter Lynnette Curtis at lcurtis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285.