NLV Moves Against Union Pay | News

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- North Las Vegas City Manager Tim Hacker announced Wednesday the city of North Las Vegas wants to suspend certain union rights in its effort to meet the deadline to submit a balanced budget. 

"Public safety is our No. 1 objective," Hacker said. "Without taking this action, we would be forced to lay off large numbers of police and firefighters. We don't want to take them off the streets, where we already are stretched thin, and could risk compromising the health, safety and welfare of the city's residents and businesses."

North Las Vegas used a state law that calls for emergency powers in case of riot, war, natural disaster or civil disorder. North Las Vegas adds that public safety employees are paid more on average than most comparable cities and they simply can't afford it anymore.

North Las Vegas Police say that they are at the bare minimum of officers needed to maintain a SWAT team in the city.

"It's emotional and it's based on desperation," said Leonard Cardinale with the Police Supervisors Union. "I don't think they have the desire to sit down with people and have a true negotiable process in order to find common ground."

Next week, Hacker will ask the council for power to cancel certain pay and benefits for public employees. The public safety unions say they were willing to give up most of those benefits, they just wanted some assurances that their members would not be laid off anyway.

Public employee unions say that even if the council passed these emergency powers on June 1, they will likely fight it in Clark County District Court.