Editorial: Labor chief leaves his mark on Nevada

Labor movements aren't sustained by one person. They succeed when all union members pull together, especially during tough times. Even so, the decision by Claude "Blackie" Evans to retire in August, after two decades as the chief of the Nevada AFL-CIO, is a loss for labor and for management, too.

Evans has been a forceful presence in Nevada. A straight-shooter who doesn't mince words, he also has been counted on as a voice of reason during labor-management negotiations. Casino executives get much of the credit for this state's economic success, but just as important are labor leaders such as Evans who have stood firm and made sure that workers got decent wages so they also could join in the prosperity.

Even nonunion workers have made gains when Evans has won concessions from employers. In order to stay competitive in the job market, nonunion employers must try to come close to the salaries and benefits offered elsewhere by those employing union workers with higher wages.

Danny Thompson, a former state assemblyman who is now the state AFL-CIO's political action director, is considered the front-runner to replace Evans as secretary-treasurer of the 145,000-member organization, which is one of the most powerful political forces in the state.

His successor will be fortunate in that Evans has laid the foundation for an incredibly strong labor organization. Still, whoever gets the job will have the unenviable task of replacing a giant in Nevada labor and politics.

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