Arbitration delayed for county, firefighters union

The tense stalemate between Clark County and its firefighters union is taking longer than expected to resolve through binding arbitration.

The two sides were set to submit their final contract offers by Dec. 8 to the arbitrator, who then would pick one or the other within 10 days.

Now it will be mid- to late December before the final labor proposals are submitted, said County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, citing unnamed sources.

That means the arbitrator might not make a decision until January. And it's unclear whether any changes, such as reduced benefits, would be retroactive to July 2010, when the contract expired.

Negotiators for the county and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1908 needed more than the three arbitration hearings originally planned to present their cases and rebuttals, Giunchigliani said.

The three hearings were scheduled for early November, with the aim of giving the arbitrator the final offers within 30 days of the Nov. 8 hearing. No one would say whether additional hearings have been held yet.

Commissioner Tom Collins said he was puzzled that arbitration is dragging out. He had heard that both sides withdrew several contractual items from the proceedings to focus on the core disputes.

"I think they could've done it in two days and gotten out of there, and that's with coffee breaks," Collins said.

It's up to the arbitrator to quicken the pace and not let the hearings get bogged down, Collins said. "I don't know why the arbitrator is taking so long."

The arbitration has become veiled in secrecy, not only about what is being discussed but the timeline. Neither county nor union officials would comment Monday.

Commissioner Steve Sisolak said he hit a stone wall when inquiring with county officials about the date the two sides will submit their final offers.

"They would tell me nothing," Sisolak said.

Previously, county and union representatives said they would make the final offers public. But county spokesman Erik Pappa indicated Monday he was unsure that would still happen.

The county and union began bargaining in March. County leaders made clear they would take a tougher stance than in previous labor talks because of the growing budget shortfall and firefighters' reluctance to make concessions comparable to those given by other public union employees.

The union represents roughly 700 firefighters, who averaged $180,000 in wages and benefits in 2009, partly because of overtime and other supplemental pay.

Union officials declared an impasse in labor talks in August after the county rejected what the union claimed were
$9.7 million in contract concessions. County leaders contend that the savings were exaggerated.

Sisolak said he was concerned that arbitration for a one-year contract renewal could drag into January, especially given that the contract in dispute will expire in July.

"You only have six months," he said.

Contact reporter Scott Wyland at swyland@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.