Settlement gives Las Vegas city employees extra paid day off, cash payout

Members of the largest collective bargaining unit in the city of Las Vegas would get another paid day off and a small cash payout under a settlement agreement approved Wednesday by the City Council.

The council voted unanimously in favor of the agreement with the Las Vegas City Employees Association, a group that covers about 1,250 positions. The association represents classified workers, a group that includes janitors, office workers, maintenance employees, street sweepers and others.

The agreement, valued between $450,000 and $500,000, is the result of changes to state law governing retirement pay.

Under an existing labor deal, the workers had agreed to see their hours cut from 40 to 38 hours per week, a concession that resulted in less pay.

The city, however, agreed to continue making contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System as if they were working 40 hours per week.

That deal went sour, though, when the Legislature earlier this year put a lower cap on the number of hours that could fall under such an arrangement.

"We negotiated for 96 (hours), we are only getting 48," said Val Sharp, president of the employee association. "That's how the settlement came into being."

To make up for the difference without going to a formal grievance process or the courts, the city and the workers agreed to add an extra day off with pay during the last week of the year and a $40,000 payout to be divided among members.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-229-6435.