Arbitrator: Fire union offer had problems; county needs to curb sick leave abuse by firefighters

Thursday, Jan. 20, 2011 | 10:35 a.m.

So said Arbitrator Norman Brand in rejecting the fire union's last, best offer and accepting Clark County's. He insisted the county's offer was more beneficial to the public and he revealed some startling cases of what the county said was abuse of sick leave policies. To wit:

"In 2009, he took 48 days of paid sick leave, without ever taking 4 days in a row, so the Chief could require a certificate of illness. He worked 63 of his 121 scheduled shifts, took 11 days of vacation, and worked 92 shifts of overtime/callback. (County Ex. 16Y) He earned $232,187 for the year."

There is much more, too, but it is essentially a total repudiation of the fire union's assertions and a validation of the county's.

I have posted the decision at right.