Clark County to state: SEIU bargaining in bad faith, won’t talk about money

Friday, Sept. 9, 2011 | 10:13 a.m.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Chart at right shows how much each union has given up and that SEIU has given up least.

(DAIA District Attorney Investigators Association BC Battalion Chiefs (Fire Dept))

UPDATED WITH SEIU RESPONSE BELOW

In a stinging and stunning document filed this week, Clark County alleges SEIU, whose contract expired on June 30, has not been bargaining in good faith. The county wants the Local Government Employee Management Relations Board to compel the union to meet more often and bargain in good faith.

The most startling section of the complaint, which I have posted at right, is the scene where the union has a rally and declares it won't talk about "financial articles" -- truly amazing.

You can see how dire the county folks think it is from a memo sent today by county union negotiating expert Ed Finger:

Commissioners,

As we've discussed in closed door briefings, the SEIU has not been willing to meet more often than monthly to bargain. This repeated and intentional stalling by the Union has lead us to a situation where we are nearly three months into the fiscal year, and three months past the expiration of the contract, with a significant amount of work still to do at the table. We haven't truly begun the bargaining process since the Union has not to date provided the County with all of its bargaining proposals. In addition, the Union is not bargaining productively, is taking extended breaks during negotiations, and shows up late for scheduled bargaining.

Attached is a complaint filed by staff with the EMRB in an attempt to compel the union to meet more regularly with the County and begin bargaining in good faith toward a new contract. We had intended to discuss this with the Board on Tuesday, again, during our closed session, but due to the length of the meeting that did not happen.

If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

Ed

SEIU responded this afternoon:

SEIU to Clark County: Are You Bargaining in the Same Room We’re Bargaining In?

Las Vegas, September 9 – SEIU learned this morning that Clark County has filed a complaint with the Employee Management Relations Board (EMRB) accusing members who are negotiating with management of delaying the process and refusing to agree to the County’s hurtful takeaways.

These negotiations take into consideration more than 40 articles which define the working conditions employees have to live by and the benefits they receive. These benefits include such important topics such as, how much workers pay for prescriptions and the protective clothing they wear on the job. Our members work tirelessly to evaluate these proposals and how they will impact Clark County workers today and tomorrow.

Clark County public employees have done more than most when it comes to working with the County to help them through the financial crisis. During these negotiations, when management proposed takeaways, members provided a counter-proposal. To say members are refusing to talk economics is disingenuous; this charge with the EMRB is frivolous.

We invite members of the media to talk to our members, who are working diligently and seriously at this moment on decisions which will impact their lives well into the future and we look forward to continuing serious and thoughtful negotiations with Clark County.