North Las Vegas ratifies pared-down contract with Teamsters

By Erin Dostal

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010 | 7:25 p.m.

After months of discussions, the North Las Vegas City Council ratified a concession agreement with the city’s Teamsters union that includes pay cuts and mandatory furlough days.

The new agreement — unanimously approved by the council — will save 144 Teamsters jobs that would have been cut if no concessions were made.

The agreement says members of Teamsters Local 14, starting Jan. 1, will reduce their wages by 4.25 percent. It also says union members must take four furlough days between Christmas and New Year’s Day this year and during the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

Each member must also take six furlough days between now and June 30, 2011, the end of this fiscal year, and eight furlough days between July 1, 2011, and June 30, 2012, the following fiscal year.

The group also agreed to freeze merit increases during the 2011 fiscal year. Under the new agreement, the union’s members will not be able to sell back holiday and sick days.

During the next 30 months, the agreement is expected to save the city $7.7 million, said Joyce Lira, director of human resources for the city.

By avoiding layoffs, the city will save $4.7 million on leave payouts and unemployment compensation, Lira said.

Coucnilwoman Anita Wood thanked the union for coming forward and putting the city first.

“This gives new meaning to the word heroes,” Wood said.

Julie Wallace, a union member, spoke on behalf of the Teamsters.

“They came to the table, they are willing to give,” she said of the Teamsters. “The thanks belongs to them.”

The city gave the group more annual leave, including eight days during fiscal years 2012-2013 and 2013-2014, Lira said. The city also agreed not to outsource any of the current employees’ work, she said.

The articles in the agreement, called a memorandum of understanding, will amend the existing contract the union has with the city, said city spokeswoman Juliet Casey. The amended version of the contract is set to expire July 30, 2014.

City officials have been in ongoing talks with the city’s three largest unions — firefighters, police and the Teamsters. According to a budget reduction plan that will allow the city close a $35.1 million budget gap by July 1, 2012, 33 firefighter positions and 27 unionized police officer positions would need to be cut to balance the city’s budget, unless concessions are made.

The City Council approved the budget reduction plan Nov. 1 by a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Shari Buck as the only dissenter. So far, only the Teamsters have reached an agreement to save their jobs.