County OKs union labor agreement for jail project

By Kyle B. Hansen

Tuesday, April 19, 2011 | 3:57 p.m.

Clark County commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved a controversial agreement with labor unions as part of a jail construction project.

The agreement, which is the subject of a legal battle, will govern labor for the first phase of renovation of the Clark County Detention Center’s North Tower.

The county proposed using the labor agreement in an effort to save time and money on the project, which involves displacing the jail’s kitchen, laundry area and medical center.

During the $30 million renovation, some of those services will have to be outsourced, adding to the project cost. Should the project be delayed by a labor dispute, those costs could escalate, officials said. But unions that sign the agreement pledge not to strike at the project.

However, the agreement also limits the use of non-union labor on the project and requires a contractor to apply the same rules to non-union employees at the site.

A group of nonunion contractors sued the county April 8 saying they have been unfairly disqualified from bidding for the work because of the agreement.

A judge said Monday he couldn’t rule on the validity of the agreement until the county actually approved the agreement.

Commissioners approved the agreement with little discussion and no public comment, despite the presence of dozens of union members supporting the plan.

Carel Carter, the director of Real Property Management for the county, said 12 contractors bid on the project before the labor agreement was proposed. After the agreement was suggested, the county re-advertised the project and 13 contractors applied, Carter said.