Michelle Maese, president of SEIU Local 1107, speaks at a rally in front of Clark County. (Photo: Michael Lyle/Nevada Current)
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SEIU Local 1107 members rallied outside of the Clark County Commission on Tuesday to demand the management address vacancy rates by filling open positions, offer better and more competitive pay, and address racial disparities in hiring and discipline.
The union, which represents around 7,000 county employees including public service employees in departments including public works, aviation, juvenile justice services, family services and social services, began contract negotiations with the county in February.
Workers speaking Tuesday voiced frustration with the process, which is ongoing.
“We have tried to work with county management and we have been all kinds of polite,” said Michelle Maese, president of SEIU Local 1107. “We have been at the bargaining table numerous times and reasoned with them. Our patience is running out.”
The union was further frustrated after Clark County announced it would approve an $80 million settlement with Gypsum Resources over a legal dispute involving a planned housing development near Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
Jennifer Cooper, a spokeswoman with Clark County, said in a statement last week that without the settlement the county was at risk of a larger payout.
“While an $80 million payment is significant for the County, by reprioritizing and reallocating funds for planned capital projects and other economic development projects not yet underway, the settlement will not have a detrimental impact on services nor will it require a reduction in staff,” Cooper said. “The County will continue to identify sources of funding that will not impact the important services the County provides to the community.”
SEIU members pushed back against the settlement on Tuesday and argued it will prevent the county from investing in workers and meeting union demands for better pay.
Maese said high vacancy rates among public service workers is a crisis of the county’s making.
“When Clark County decides they do not want to pay workers, that is a crisis,” Maese said. “When Clark County makes a conscious decision to have some of our classification at a lower wage than In-N-Out or Starbucks and to not pay the people who have worked here for decades, Clark County you have a problem. That is a crisis and we will no longer stand for that.”
Maese said 17 years ago when she worked for Child Protective Services, the average length of stay for an employee was around 11 years.
“Today, three and a half years,” she said. “That’s unacceptable.”
The union said there is a 20% vacancy rate countywide. The high number of open positions is creating problems for its current staff, members warned Tuesday.
Clark County Family Services caseworker Yaritza Trevino said investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect is hard enough, and the difficulty of the job is compounded when there isn’t enough staff to address the high caseloads.
“It means county employees are overworked, stressed out and overwhelmed,” Trevino said. “It means that children in danger do not get the help and attention that they desperately need.”
Caseworkers in the family services department are supposed to see children assigned to them every 30 days.
“Our staffing is low and usually this is not possible,” she said. “It is outrageous and unacceptable that we are unable to keep the standards of keeping the children of Clark county safe.”
Workers said they are asked to do more while not earning enough to meet increased cost of living.
Alexis Esparza, who has worked as a clerk in the Clark County District Attorney’s office for six years, said her income isn’t enough to support her two children as a single parent.
But the low wages not only prevents the county from keeping workers, she said. People aren’t willing to take jobs and fill vacant positions.
With workers in her department stretched thin, Esparza said the consequences could hinder public safety.
“If we miss one thing, people could be let out of jail when they pick up new cases when they should be left in,” Esparza said. “Or if we include the wrong information we could actually be holding people in jail who shouldn’t be there. None of this benefits our community.”
Maese said Tuesday’s rally is a first in a series of actions against the county.
“We are prepared to escalate until they meet demands,” she said. “We are willing to go the extra mile to make sure our voices are heard.”
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