Time for good faith

Friday, April 24, 2009 | 2:09 a.m.

Aware that governments at all levels are facing severe budgetary problems because of the recession, many unions representing public employees in Nevada and across the country have been making concessions this year.

The Las Vegas Police Protective Association, which represents 2,500 police officers, agreed to forgo a 3 percent cost-of-living increase that would have taken effect July 1.

The Service Employees International Union, which represents 9,500 employees of Clark County, agreed to trim a scheduled cost-of-living increase from 3 percent to 1 percent and cap merit increases at 4 percent instead of 5 percent.

Such gestures are saving taxpayers millions of dollars in addition to saving public sector jobs, which, without the concessions, could have been in jeopardy.

But as a story Thursday by Las Vegas Sun reporter Joe Schoenmann pointed out, it is getting late in the budget year and Clark County is not even close to getting a wage or benefit concession from the International Association of Firefighters Local 1908 — a union representing approximately 770 firefighters.

The local’s president, Ryan Beaman, has instead sent a letter to county administrators suggesting a variety of cuts that would affect the fire department’s management as well as county management. Notably absent was any offer to negotiate over firefighters’ benefits or the 3 percent cost-of-living raise the firefighters are scheduled to receive July 1.

Beaman’s cost-saving suggestions are rightfully being reviewed by County Manager Virginia Valentine, who called them “thorough and thoughtful.” But Beaman was wrong to say his suggestions are sufficient. The county anticipates a budget shortfall of $70 million to $80 million and needs earnest cooperation from the union as it tries to save jobs and services even as the recession worsens.

County firefighters were paid $14.5 million in overtime last year. The union could offer to work on cutting that back, or to take a 2 percent rather than a 3 percent raise. Whatever Beaman might offer, he should start negotiating in good faith.