Collective bargaining for Nevada workers sparks debate

Nevada labor union representatives have told the Assembly Government Affairs Committee it's time that state workers had collective-bargaining rights.

"This is an issue of fundamental fairness," AFL-CIO Nevada Director Danny Thompson said Thursday.

"Every other public employee in the state -- teachers, firemen, police and local governments -- all have this right."

Only one witness spoke against AB65, which would provide state workers with collective bargaining. Sam McMullen, representing the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Association of Nevada, said collective bargaining would shift the balance of power unfairly toward the employees and drive up the need for state revenues.

Wally Tarrantino, a lawyer for unions allied with the Teamsters, Gary Wolf representing the Nevada Highway Patrol Association and others urged support for the bill, which cleared the Assembly two years ago only to die in the Senate.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, also said he supports it. He said he was president of the Henderson Police union for eight years and still pays his union dues "because I believe in the partnership between labor and management."

Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Gardnerville, made it clear he opposes giving state workers the power to bargain that all local governments have.

"In all candor, I'd probably eliminate it for cities and counties instead," he said.