Despite Guinn's budget plan, state workers will seek raises

CARSON CITY -- A proposal to give a pay raise to more than 11,000 state workers will be pushed in the Legislature, despite Gov. Kenny Guinn's budget that doesn't include any money for higher salaries.

"We're proceeding with our legislative proposal," says Robert Gagnier, executive director of the State of Nevada Employees Association, the largest union of state workers.

"There seems to be a lot of money for other things," Gagnier said. "It's a matter of priorities."

Guinn's chief of staff Peter Ernaut said Monday there is no money available for pay increases for state workers, school teachers and faculty at the University and Community College System of Nevada. A 1 percent raise would cost $19.5 million the first year of the biennium and it would increase to $40 million the second year.

Gagnier admitted it would be "very difficult" to convince the lawmakers to grant a raise when there's no money allocated in the budget. But he complained that salaries in local government continue to escalate and "keep pulling away" from the pay scale for state employees that perform the same jobs.

In addition, he said the turnover in some state agencies is as high as 26 percent. Correctional officers at the state prisons is an example, he said.

Gagnier said his association of 4,400 members wants a 2 percent cost-of- living raise plus a revision in the compensation plan to reward veteran workers.

In recent sessions of the Legislature, state workers have received the same pay raise as school teachers and university faculty. If the governors and Legislature are going to tie state workers to the school districts, Gagnier argues, they should have the same compensation plan.

School teachers earn nearly automatic pay raises or longevity increases for 13 years, when reach the top of the scale, Gagnier said. State employees reach the top of the scale after seven years. Each step represents a pay increase of about 4.5 percent annually, if the worker gets a standard evaluation.

Under the association's proposal, veteran state workers at the top of the scale would receive an additional 9 percent over the next two years, in addition to the cost-of-living increases.

"If they insist on tying us to teachers, give us what they have," Gagnier said.

Gagnier's association will also be battling to get a collective bargaining bill passed this session. But its chances appear dim, since Guinn doesn't favor that proposal, which would give state workers the same rights as local government to bargain for salaries and benefits.

The association has been trying for more than 10 years for collective bargaining. It got through the Legislature once, but Gov. Bob Miller vetoed the bill.

In addition, the health insurance program for state workers is an estimated $14 million in the red. Ernaut has indicated the administration will bail it out.

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