Kirner defends bargaining bill, says it’s not ‘union Armageddon’

CARSON CITY — Assemblyman Randy Kirner said Wednesday his bill to make several changes to the state’s collective bargaining law to benefit local governments and taxpayers does not constitute “union Armageddon” as has been characterized by some public union and labor officials.

Kirner testified in support of Assembly Bill 182 before the Assembly Commerce and Labor Committee in a hearing room packed with public union workers who were out in force to oppose the measure. An overflow room and the Las Vegas hearing room were packed as well.

Kirner’s bill would clarify the rules that exclude supervisors from collective bargaining, prohibit using government funds to pay employees engaged in union activities, and prohibit government employers from collecting union deductions from their employees.

The bill would also prohibit any wage or benefit increases if a contract has expired until a new agreement is finalized and eliminate binding fact-finding unless the local government entity chooses to employ it, among its other provisions. It would also allow layoffs that are not based on seniority.

“This bill does not eliminate collective bargaining in any shape or form,” Kirner said.

Opponents argued that there was no justification to seek the changes. The payroll deductions, for example, are a nominal cost for governments that some union officials said they would be happy to reimburse.

County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani, speaking as an individual, called the bill an attack on the middle class, an attack on unions and the death of collective bargaining “by a thousand cuts.”

The committee took no action on the bill.

AB182 is the most comprehensive measure to date to be heard in the Nevada Legislature dealing with collective bargaining reform. Two other measures dealing with single issues have previously won approval from the Senate Government Affairs Committee. Efforts to change Nevada’s collective bargaining law are a high priority for the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Kirner said his bill is an effort to restore some balance to the competing interests of taxpayers and public unions. While open to amendments and suggestions, Kirner said the intimidation tactics being used against him and the measure are counterproductive.

Henderson Mayor Andy Hafen and Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said in a letter that AB182 should be a starting point for discussing potential changes to the collective bargaining law.

But there should be no move to strike complete sections of the law without considering what such changes “might do to the stability, reliability and even the survival of our work forces,” they said.

Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins also opposed the bill, saying Nevada’s collective bargaining law is a valuable tool for local elected officials.

He said contract negotiations are where management can learn what is going on in the workplace.

The law ensures that employees are treated fairly and it helps avoid injuries and lawsuits, Collins said.

Ruben Murillo Jr., president of the Nevada State Education Association, said taking away payroll deductions would deprive the union of resources used for professional development of teachers and other valuable programs.

Contact Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3900. Find him on Twitter: @seanw801.